Wall Street Brunch: Megacaps And The Fed

Earnings Reports - Apple, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms are set to report earnings, with significant attention on their performance amid the AI-driven market [3] - Microsoft is expected to show growth in AI-driven Azure services, while Apple's report will focus on iPhone demand and its AI strategy [4] - Apple is projected to achieve its largest year-over-year revenue increase in four years, driven by the iPhone 17 series and strong performance in emerging markets [5] Federal Reserve and Economic Policy - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is anticipated to hold rates steady, with a 99% market expectation for no changes [5] - Chairman Jerome Powell faces scrutiny due to a White House investigation regarding the Federal Reserve's headquarters renovation [6] - The investigation is noted as an unprecedented escalation in the Fed's history, with Powell receiving some backing from the Supreme Court regarding his position [7] Weather Impact - A severe winter storm has disrupted air travel across the U.S., leading to thousands of flight cancellations and affecting nearly 180 million people [8] Trade and Tariffs - Former President Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if Canada proceeds with a trade agreement with China [9] AI Adoption in the Workforce - A Gallup poll indicates that 12% of U.S. workers now use AI daily in their jobs, a significant increase from previous years [10]