Fed Decision Ahead, Inflation Update Due, Big Tech Earnings
By Jacqueline Policastro | Quincy News Correspondent
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Washington (Quincy News) — Market Recap: U.S. stocks finished lower Friday as rising oil prices and concerns about artificial intelligence spending weighed on markets. The Dow dropped 653 points, or 1.2%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.5% and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.2%.
Oil prices slipped early Monday after last week’s jump, with Brent crude down about 1.6% to near $115 a barrel as of 6 a.m. ET amid hopes of easing U.S.-Iran tensions. U.S. stock futures edged higher as investors looked ahead to a busy week of Big Tech earnings, the Fed’s decision Wednesday and new inflation data Thursday.
Today’s Focus: The Federal Reserve meets Tuesday and Wednesday, with its interest-rate decision due Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET and Chair Kevin Warsh’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. The meeting follows September’s quarter-point increase, which brought the benchmark rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%.
For households carrying credit-card balances, the stakes include borrowing costs. Many cards have variable interest rates tied to the prime rate, which banks set partly in response to Fed policy. Higher rates can increase the interest charged on unpaid balances.
Thursday brings the government’s first estimate of third-quarter economic growth and September’s personal income and spending report, including the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index. The inflation figures will show how prices changed across the goods and services consumers buy.
Major technology earnings are also on the calendar. Microsoft and Alphabet report Wednesday, followed by Amazon on Thursday, offering another look at corporate performance during the industry’s costly AI expansion.
ON THE SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026
-Tuesday – Federal Reserve begins its two-day policy meeting
-Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. ET – September durable-goods orders
-Tuesday, 10 a.m. ET – October consumer confidence and September new-home sales
-Wednesday, 2 p.m. ET – Federal Reserve interest-rate decision
-Wednesday, 2:30 p.m. ET – Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s press conference
-Wednesday, after the market closes – Microsoft and Alphabet earnings
-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. ET – Third-quarter GDP advance estimate; September personal income and spending, including PCE inflation; and weekly initial jobless claims
-Thursday, after the market closes – Amazon and Intel earnings
-Friday, 8:30 a.m. ET – Third-quarter Employment Cost Index
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