By Terry Lane

Developments in the Iran conflict will remain a top focus for investors this week, but economic data and corporate events will also clamor for attention after another down week for stocks.

Employers cut jobs in February, and economists will watch a string of reports this week for insight into the strength of the U.S. jobs market. Retail sales, consumer confidence, and the U.S. trade balance will also be in focus.

Nike is reporting earnings with its ongoing turnaround efforts hampering its stock. Meanwhile, Conagra Brands and other food companies are set to report this week, providing insight into consumer spending on staples.

Fed Watches for Labor-Market Weakness

The U.S. jobs report for March will be released Friday. Economists are closely watching the labor market after it recently showed signs of weakness: Employers cut 92,000 jobs in February.  Earlier in the week, investors will get a look at private sector hiring in March with the Wednesday release of the ADP employment data.

Worries over labor market weakness led the Federal Reserve to enact a series of interest rate cuts at the end of 2025. Since then, rising inflation readings have prompted the central bank to keep rates steady. Continued weakness in the labor market could put more pressure on the Fed.

Shoppers slowed their purchasing to start the year, with economists pointing to poor weather dragging down sales, and Wednesday's release of the U.S. retail sales report for February will show if that slowness continued. Consumer spending makes up about two-thirds of the U.S. economy.

The Tuesday release of the consumer confidence report for March will also be in focus, as it will likely capture public sentiment over the impact of the U.S.’s conflict with Iran.

Nike Reports as Analysts See Upside for Shoe Maker

Sporting goods apparel maker Nike, a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, will report its quarterly earnings this week amid a slide in its stock price this year as the company continues its turnaround efforts. Some analysts think the recent decline may signal a low point for the company, with Barclays recently upgrading the stock after noting that the firm’s financials may have hit a “fundamental bottom.” Analysts see a potential upside of 30% or more for Nike’s stock. 

Conagra Brands, which makes Slim Jim and other popular grocery store brands, reports its earnings this week amid an 11% decline in its stock price this year. Investors will also get reports from other noteworthy food sellers, including spice company McCormick & Co., potato producer Lamb Weston, and egg supplier Cal-Maine.

This Week’s Calendar

Monday, March 30

• Key Earnings: Progress Software (PRGS) 

Tuesday, March 31

• Consumer confidence (March)2

• More Data to Watch: S&P Case-Shiller price index (January), Chicago Business Barometer (March)34

• Federal Reserve Officials Speaking: Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee5

• Key Earnings: Nike (NKE), McCormick & Co. (MKC), TD Synnex (SNX), nCino (NCNO)

Wednesday, April 1

• U.S. retail sales (February)

• More Data to Watch: ADP employment report (March), Business inventories (January), ISM manufacturing PMI (March), S&P manufacturing PMI (March)

• Key Earnings: ConAgra Brands (CAG), Lamb Weston (LW), MSC Industrial (MSM), Cal-Maine (CALM)

Thursday, April 2

• U.S. trade deficit (February)

• More Data to Watch: Initial jobless claims (Week ending March 28)

• Key Earnings: Acuity (AYI), Lindsay Corp (LNN)

Friday, April 3

• U.S. employment report (March)More Data to Watch: ISM services PMI (March), S&P services PMI (March)

• S&P Global. “Calendar PMI data are released monthly, in advance of comparable official economic data.”

One More Thing

If you’ve been making bets on March basketball, it could be risky for your finances. Investopedia’s Diccon Hyatt has more on a new study showing that delinquency rates have doubled for those that have taken up legalized online gambling.

Source: Investopedia