US Market Catalysts: FOMC Minutes, Retail Earnings, and Housing Trends

As the global financial markets enter their third week of August, investor attention is shifting from high-flying technology earnings to the bedrock of the U.S. economy: the American consumer, the housing market, and central bank policy.

The S&P 500 touched fresh record highs above 7,800 last week, but now traders face a packed macro and microeconomic calendar.

Key economic releases include the July FOMC minutes, Q2 earnings reports from retail giants like Walmart, Home Depot, and Target, and regional manufacturing trends and real estate confidence.

The Federal Reserve will release the August Empire State Manufacturing Index alongside the NAHB Housing Market Index and June Treasury International Capital (TIC) flows on Monday.

Major economic data out of China, including industrial production, retail sales, and fixed-asset investment, will influence global risk sentiment and commodity pricing early in the session.