Last week, key economic data, central bank decisions, and corporate earnings shaped markets. China’s PMI contracted while inflation remained a central focus. The ECB and Bank of Canada cut rates while the Fed held steady. Earnings were mixed, with strong results from Microsoft, Meta, and Visa, while Tesla and Chevron missed expectations. Commodities saw oil decline while gold and silver gained. Stock indices were mixed, with the NASDAQ and S&P 500 down, while the Dow rose slightly.
Monday, January 27
03:30 am – China: Manufacturing PMI (CNY)
China’s factory activity contracted in January, with PMI falling to 49.1, missing expectations. Industrial profits dropped 3.3% in 2024 but rebounded 11% in December. Analysts warn of structural challenges and US tariff risks despite stimulus efforts.
The USDCNH exchange rate edged up by 0.11% compared to the prior trading session.
17:00 – USA: CB Consumer Confidence (USD)
US consumer confidence fell in January, with the Conference Board’s index dropping 5.4 points to 104.1. The Present Situation Index saw a sharp decline, while future expectations also dipped but stayed above recession-warning levels. Analysts note weakening views on business and labor market conditions, reinforcing a cautious outlook.
The EURUSD exchange rate declined by 0.54%.
02:30 am – Australia: CPI q/q (AUD)
Australia’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in the December 2024 quarter, bringing annual inflation to 2.4%. Recreation, culture, alcohol, and tobacco saw the biggest price increases, while housing and transport costs declined.
The AUDUSD exchange rate decreased by 0.42% compared to the previous day’s close.
16:45 – Canada: Overnight Rate (CAD)
The Bank of Canada cut its policy rate by 25 basis points to 3% and announced the end of quantitative tightening. Lower rates are boosting household spending, and GDP growth is projected to strengthen in 2025. Inflation remains close to 2%, but trade uncertainty, particularly potential US tariffs, poses risks to the outlook.
The USDCAD exchange rate increased by 0.21%.
21:00 – USA: Federal Funds Rate (USD)
The Federal Reserve kept its target interest rate at 4.25%–4.50%, citing solid economic growth, stable unemployment, and still-elevated inflation. Policymakers see balanced risks to employment and inflation but remain cautious given economic uncertainty. The Fed will continue reducing its asset holdings and stands ready to adjust policy if needed to achieve its 2% inflation target.
The EURUSD currency pair fell by 0.20%.
15:15 – Europe: Main Refinancing Rate (EUR)
The European Central Bank (ECB) cut key interest rates by 25 basis points, lowering the deposit facility rate to 2.75%, as inflation trends toward its 2% target. While domestic inflation remains high due to wage adjustments, borrowing costs are easing. The ECB will continue a data-driven approach without committing to a specific rate path while maintaining tight financing conditions.
The EURUSD exchange rate declined by 0.03%.
15:30 – USA: Unemployment Claims (USD)
US initial jobless claims fell by 16,000 to 207,000 for the week ending January 25, while the four-week average dipped to 212,500. The insured unemployment rate remained steady at 1.2%, with continued claims decreasing by 42,000 to 1.86 million.
The USDJPY exchange rate decreased by 0.71%.
All Day – Europe: German Prelim CPI m/m (EUR)
Germany’s inflation rate is expected to be 2.3% in January 2025, with consumer prices declining 0.2% from December. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, is estimated at 2.9%.
The EURUSD exchange rate decreased by 0.33%.
15:30 – USA: Core PCE Price Index m/m (USD)
US personal income rose 0.4% in December 2024, while consumer spending increased 0.7%. The personal saving rate stood at 3.8%. The PCE price index rose 2.6% year-over-year, with core PCE (excluding food and energy) up 2.8%.
The USDJPY increased by 0.53% compared to the prior daily session.
Tuesday, January 28: GM (General Motors Company)
Tuesday, January 28: SBUX (Starbucks Corporation)
Wednesday, January 29: META (Meta Platforms, Inc.)
Wednesday, January 29: MSFT (Microsoft Corporation)
Wednesday, January 29: TSLA (Tesla, Inc.)
Thursday, January 30: AAPL (Apple Inc)
Thursday, January 30: BX (Blackstone Inc)
Thursday, January 30: CAT (Caterpillar Inc)
Thursday, January 30: INTC (Intel Corporation)
Thursday, January 30: V (Visa Inc)
Friday, January 31: CVX (Chevron Corporation)
Friday, January 31: XOM (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
General Motors reported a strong Q4 2024, with adjusted EPS surging 55% to $1.92 and revenue rising 11% to $47.7 billion, surpassing estimates. North American operations saw notable growth, reinforcing GM’s strong market position.
GM shares price declined by 8.25% from the previous week.
Starbucks reported Q1 2025 earnings with an EPS of $0.69, slightly beating estimates. With a trailing EPS of $3.10 and a P/E ratio of 34.74, earnings are projected to grow 21.67% next year to $3.65 per share.
SBUX shares increased by 8.98% from the previous week.
Meta Platforms reported strong Q4 2024 earnings, with EPS of $8.02, surpassing estimates by $1.27. With a trailing EPS of $23.92 and a P/E ratio of 28.81, earnings are projected to grow 12.07% next year to $28.51 per share.
META shares experienced an increase of 6.44%.
Microsoft reported strong Q2 2025 earnings, with profit rising to $24.11 billion and EPS at $3.23, beating estimates of $3.11. Revenue grew 12.3% year-over-year to $69.63 billion, reflecting solid business performance.
MSFT Shares declined by 6.53% compared to the previous week.
Tesla reported Q4 2024 earnings of $2.32 billion, with adjusted EPS of $0.73, missing Wall Street expectations of $0.75. Revenue came in at $25.71 billion, below the forecasted $27.5 billion.
TSLA shares declined by 0.49% from the previous week.
Apple reported Q1 2025 revenue of $124.3 billion, a 4% year-over-year increase, with EPS rising 10% to $2.40.
AAPL shares experience a weekly rise of 5.93%.
Blackstone reported strong Q4 2024 earnings, with distributable EPS of $1.69, surpassing analyst estimates of $1.47.
BX shares saw a weekly decline of 5.16%.
Caterpillar reported Q4 2024 revenue of $16.2 billion and full-year revenue of $64.8 billion. Q4 profit per share was $5.78 ($5.14 adjusted), while full-year profit per share reached $22.05 ($21.90 adjusted). The company generated $12 billion in operating cash flow and deployed $10.3 billion for share repurchases and dividends.
CAT shares experienced a weekly decline of 8.88%.
Intel reported Q4 2024 earnings with non-GAAP EPS of $0.13, beating estimates of $0.10. Revenue reached $14.3 billion, exceeding the forecast of $13.8 billion.
INTC shares declined by 6.72% compared to the prior week.
Visa reported Q1 fiscal 2025 EPS of $2.75, beating estimates of $2.66 and rising 14% year-over-year. Revenue grew 10% to $9.5 billion, driven by strong consumer spending and cross-border volumes, though higher operating expenses partially offset gains.
V shares saw a weekly increase of 3.51%.
Chevron reported Q4 2024 earnings of $3.2 billion ($1.84 per share) and adjusted earnings of $3.6 billion ($2.06 per share). Full-year production hit record levels, and $27 billion was returned to shareholders. Despite lower downstream margins, Chevron expanded key projects and increased its dividend by 5%.
CVX shares decreased by 4.15%.
Exxon Mobil reported Q4 2024 earnings of $7.39 billion ($1.67 per share), beating estimates of $1.56. Despite lower oil prices and refining margins, higher production in the Permian Basin and Guyana boosted profits. Full-year earnings reached $33.46 billion, down from $38.57 billion in 2023. Shareholder returns totaled $36 billion, with plans for $20 billion in annual buybacks through 2026.
XOM shares declined by 1.68%.
Last week highlighted key economic trends, central bank decisions, and corporate earnings that shaped market movements. Inflation and monetary policy remained focal points, with rate cuts from the ECB and Bank of Canada, while the Fed maintained its stance. Corporate earnings were mixed, with strong performances from Microsoft, Meta, and Visa, while Tesla and Chevron fell short. Commodities and equities saw volatility, with oil declining and gold gaining, while stock indices ended the week with mixed results. As markets navigate ongoing economic uncertainty, investor attention remains on inflation, interest rates, and corporate growth prospects.