Wall Street Week Ahead: Earnings Season Kicks Off Amidst Trade Tensions

This week, Wall Street will focus on second-quarter earnings season, with major banks and household names like JPMorgan, Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, and Netflix reporting. Trade developments, including Trump's tariffs on the European Union and Mexico, will also continue to draw attention. The economic calendar is busy, with inflation and retail sales reports due out.

This week, Wall Street is gearing up for the second-quarter earnings season, with major banks and household names like JPMorgan, Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, and Netflix set to report their financials. Amidst the earnings releases, trade developments, including President Donald Trump's tariffs on the European Union and Mexico, will continue to draw significant attention from investors and financial professionals. The economic calendar is also busy, with inflation and retail sales reports scheduled for release.

Second-Quarter Earnings Season

The earnings season is expected to kick off with a bang, as major U.S. corporations, including banks and pharmaceutical companies, are set to release their financial results. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, among other major banks, will report their earnings, providing insights into the financial health of the banking sector. Johnson & Johnson, a leading pharmaceutical company, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $2.66 per share, indicating a decline of 5.7% compared to the year-ago period [3]. Analysts forecast revenues of $22.79 billion, representing an increase of 1.5% year over year.

Trade Developments

The ongoing trade tensions and tariffs imposed by the U.S. President Donald Trump will continue to be a focal point for investors. The U.S. has implemented tariffs on the European Union and Mexico, which have the potential to disrupt global supply chains and impact corporate earnings. The impact of these tariffs will be closely watched by investors and financial analysts, as they could influence the performance of companies and sectors that are heavily exposed to international trade.

Economic Calendar

The economic calendar is packed with important releases this week. On Tuesday, July 15, the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report will be released, which could provide clues about the future of interest rates. The CPI is expected to show a monthly rise of 0.23% and a year-over-year increase of 2.6% [2]. Additionally, retail sales data will be released on Wednesday, July 16, which will give insights into consumer spending habits.

Conclusion

This week promises to be a busy one for Wall Street, with second-quarter earnings season in full swing and a packed economic calendar. Investors and financial professionals will be closely monitoring the earnings reports and economic data releases to gauge the health of the economy and make informed investment decisions.

References

[1] Reuters. (2025). Take Five Duck and Swerve. Retrieved from https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/interest/CHINA-10Y-CASH-146043375/news/Take-Five-Duck-and-swerve-50488213/

[2] Morningstar. (2025). What's Happening in Markets This Week. Retrieved from https://www.morningstar.com/markets/whats-happening-markets-this-week

[3] Yahoo Finance. (2025). Unveiling Johnson & Johnson's Q2 Earnings. Retrieved from https://finance.yahoo.com/news/unveiling-johnson-johnson-jnj-q2-131504072.html