The Week Ahead: Fed Minutes and Early Earnings Take Center Stage

• Dow Jones gained 1.97% to 52,900.08, Nasdaq rose 2.12% to 25,832.67, and S&P 500 added 1.76% to 7,483.24, with all three indices trading above their 52-week moving averages
• FOMC meeting minutes release Wednesday at 18:00 GMT will provide insight into policymakers' views on inflation, interest rates, and economic outlook
• Early Q2 earnings from PepsiCo (Thursday, est. $2.21), Delta Air Lines (Friday, est. $1.47), and Levi Strauss (Wednesday, est. $0.24) will gauge corporate performance across key sectors

Market Summary: Fed Minutes and Q2 Earnings Launch

Market Performance

U.S. equities extended gains last week, closing near record highs. The Dow Jones rose 1.97% to 52,900.08, the Nasdaq advanced 2.12% to 25,832.67, and the S&P 500 gained 1.76% to 7,483.24. All three indices remain above their 52-week moving averages, confirming the longer-term uptrend.

Key Events

The week's primary focus centers on Federal Reserve communications, particularly the June FOMC meeting minutes (Wednesday, 18:00 GMT). Investors will scrutinize policymakers' views on inflation, interest rates, and economic outlook following the decision to maintain unchanged rates. Additional Fed commentary includes speeches from Governor Christopher Waller (Monday), New York Fed President John Williams (Thursday), and a tentative Monetary Policy Report (Friday).

Earnings Season Opens

Second-quarter earnings begin with major companies reporting:

• PepsiCo (Thursday): EPS estimate $2.21
• Delta Air Lines (Friday): EPS estimate $1.47
• Levi Strauss (Wednesday): EPS estimate $0.24
• Additional reports from Helen of Troy, Simply Good Foods, and WD-40

Economic Data

The week features a light economic calendar including ISM Services PMI (Monday), ADP Employment Change and Trade Balance (Tuesday), Wholesale Inventories and Crude Oil Inventories (Wednesday), Unemployment Claims and Existing Home Sales (Thursday).

Technical Outlook

All major indices maintain positions above key support levels. The Dow faces resistance at 52,903.85, Nasdaq at 27,190.21, and S&P 500 at 7,620.90. Continued support above 52-week moving averages suggests sustained bullish momentum, with Fed communications and early earnings likely serving as primary market catalysts.