U.S. inflation, Apple's latest products, Oracle's earnings report: What Investors Need to Know This Week

With U.S. markets open for a shortened week—due to Labor Day on Monday, September 7—the focus will be on U.S. inflation data. On September 11, what may be the most important macroeconomic data in many years will be released, according to Barron’s: the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August could be a decisive factor for the Fed in setting interest rates at its September 15–16 meeting.

In Europe, the main event will be the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting—the ECB is expected to raise interest rates for the second time this year due to high energy prices.

Oracle will also release its quarterly results, and on September 9, Apple will hold its first new product presentation since Tim Cook stepped down as CEO, during which it is expected to unveil a foldable smartphone.

On Monday, September 7, U.S. stock and bond markets will be closed in observance of Labor Day in the United States.

In the eurozone, GDP and employment data for the second quarter will be released ahead of the ECB meeting and the interest rate decision.

On Tuesday, September 8, the U.S. Treasury will hold an auction to sell $58 billion in 3-year Treasury notes (the following day, on Wednesday, a similar auction will be held for $39 billion in 10-year Treasuries, and on Thursday, for $22 billion in 30-year Treasuries), according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Also in the U.S., the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) will release its Small Business Optimism Index for August. The consensus forecast is 99.2 points—slightly below July’s figure and close to the historical average of 98 points, notes Barron’s.

Meanwhile, China will release its trade and inflation data for August. The figures will draw market attention amid growing discontent among China’s trading partners over its large, export-driven trade surplus, the WSJ explains. ING economists expect exports to grow 24% year-over-year and imports to rise 32%, resulting in a trade surplus of $107 billion. Citi forecasts a larger surplus of $119.1 billion, with exports growing by 27.5%.

Braze, Casey's General Stores, and ServiceTitan will report their quarterly results.

On Wednesday, September 9, Apple will hold a new product launch event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. This will be the first such event for John Turnus, who succeeded Tim Cook as the company’s CEO on September 1. Among other gadgets, Apple is expected to unveil a foldable smartphone, as well as the latest versions of the iPhone and AirPods.

Academy Sports & Outdoors, AeroVironment, American Eagle Outfitters, Chewy, Cooper Cos., Korn Ferry, Navan, and SailPoint will report their financial results.

On Thursday, September 10, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release the Producer Price Index (PPI) for August. The index is forecast to rise 5.2% year-over-year. The core PPI—which excludes volatile food and energy prices—is expected to rise by 4.6% compared with the same period last year. For comparison, in July, the growth rates for the overall and core PPI were 4.7% and 4.2%, respectively.

The ECB will announce its decision on the key interest rate—forecasts indicate it will be raised by a quarter of a percentage point for the second time this year, to 2.5%. Inflation in the eurozone stood at 3.3% in August, significantly higher than the ECB’s 2% target.

In Japan, investors will be watching for remarks by Kazuyuki Masu, a member of the local central bank’s Monetary Policy Board—the markets have already almost fully priced in a Bank of Japan interest rate hike in September and will be looking for confirmation of this expectation. Japanese officials have previously stated on multiple occasions that when deciding on the timing and pace of interest rate hikes in the country, they will take into account the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East, exchange rate fluctuations, and demand related to artificial intelligence.

Oracle, Adobe, Copart, Macy’s, and RH will report their quarterly results.

On Friday, September 11, the BLS will release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August. Economists forecast a 3.4% year-over-year increase, matching July’s figure. Meanwhile, the core CPI is expected to rise by 2.4%, which is one-tenth of a percentage point less than during the same period a year earlier. Such an increase could mark the lowest inflation rate since March 2021, Barron’s notes.

Given the much stronger-than-expected U.S. employment data for August, the release of the CPI could be a key factor in the Fed’s rate decision at its upcoming meeting on September 15–16. Currently, traders estimate the probability of a rate hike at 60%.

Also on Friday, the University of Michigan will release its preliminary consumer sentiment index for September, which will provide a current snapshot of the state of the U.S. consumer market, according to the WSJ. The index is expected to come in at 51, which is about one point lower than in August. Consumer sentiment remains well below its historical average, Barron’s notes.

Kroger will report its results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2027.

On Saturday and Sunday, September 12–13, India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, which will bring together the leaders of the organization’s member countries and their partners. The meeting will take place against a backdrop of rising energy prices in emerging economies, global trade tensions, and conflicts in the Middle East. The leaders are expected to discuss economic and financial cooperation, as well as regional and global developments. Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the summit will be his first in seven years, according to the WSJ.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor