The US jobs report, ISM PMI survey and other AI-related tech earnings will be in focus this week. Palantir is poised for breathtaking growth as demand for its AI-powered platforms increases. Disney faces headwinds as investors scrutinize streaming profitability and park trends.
U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday, with the index and Nasdaq hitting new highs as investors weighed signs of progress in U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations, while a rise in Apple shares added further support.
Source: Investing.com
For the week, the S&P finished up 0.9%, while the Nasdaq and small caps rose 1.1% and 0.9%, respectively. The recorded a gain of around 0.5% over the period.
More volatility could be expected in the coming week as investors assess the outlook for the economy, inflation, interest rates and corporate earnings amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The biggest on the economic calendar will be Friday’s U.S. jobs report for April, which is expected to show the economy added 73,000 jobs. The unemployment rate is expected to remain at 4.3%. Ahead of the jobs report, the Services PMI will also be closely monitored.
Source: Investing.com
This will be accompanied by a slew of Fed speakers, including District Governors Chris Waller, John Williams, Michelle Bowman, Beth Hammack, Mary Daly and Alberto Musalem, all set to make public appearances.
Elsewhere, earnings season continues apace, with more than 100 S&P 500 companies expected to report results this week. These include reports from Advanced Micro Devices, , CoreWeave, ARM, , McDonald’s and Uber. They will be joined by other notable companies such as Shopify, PayPal, Coinbase, Pfizer and Arista Networks.
Source: Investing.com
Regardless of which direction the market is heading, below I highlight one stock likely to be in demand and one that could see further decline. Don’t forget though that my calendar is just for the coming week, from Monday May 4 to Friday May 8.
Stocks to Buy: Palantir
Palantir stands out as the clear buy as it approaches its first-quarter 2026 earnings release after the market close…
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