walmartcorporate / Flickr The latest Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) earnings show it is still the dominant retailer in America. Based on revenue, it will remain ahead of Amazon as the nation’s largest company based on sales. What continued to worry the market about Walmart was macroeconomic factors. If consumer sentiment faltered, Walmart would not be able to overcome the headwinds. Because of its size, it is a proxy for the behavior of U.S. consumers. 24/7 Wall St. Key Points The latest Walmart Inc. (NYSE: ...

Core Insights - Bitcoin is facing a critical week as three delayed US economic reports are set to be released, which could reshape expectations for Federal Reserve policy and influence crypto markets [1] - The convergence of these economic indicators is significant due to the current lack of up-to-date consumer spending and inflation metrics [4] Economic Reports Overview - The US economic reports include September retail sales and the Producer Price Index (PPI) scheduled for November 25, followed by initial jobless claims data on November 26 [3] - The previous retail sales report indicated a strong 0.6% monthly gain, while the PPI fell by 0.1% in August, with a year-over-year core PPI of 2.8% [4] Retail Sales Expectations - The consensus for September retail sales predicts a 0.3% month-over-month increase, with any miss below this mark potentially signaling economic cooling and fostering dovish sentiment among Federal Reserve policymakers [5] - Weaker consumer spending is often associated with rising speculation about rate cuts, which could weaken the dollar and support crypto prices [5] PPI Data Significance - The PPI release is crucial as it is the last significant inflation data before the October Personal Consumption Expenditures report [6] - Markets currently price in a 67.3% chance of a December Federal Reserve rate cut, which may shift based on new data [7] Inflation Impact on Market Expectations - A higher-than-expected PPI, especially in core measures excluding food and energy, could reduce December cut odds below 60%, strengthening the dollar and putting pressure on crypto [8] - September's consensus calls for a 0.3% monthly PPI increase, with any number significantly above this challenging the view of moderating price pressures [9]

Retail Sales and Consumer Spending - U.S. retail sales increased by 0.5% in July, marking the second consecutive monthly gain after declines in April and May, with auto sales rising by 1.6% [2][3] - Excluding auto and gas sales, spending was up only 0.2%, indicating cautious consumer behavior, as some categories like electronics and restaurants saw declines [3][4] - The report suggests that while consumers are still spending, they are doing so more cautiously, which complicates the Federal Reserve's decision-making regarding interest rate cuts [4][5] Tariffs and Semiconductor Industry - President Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on semiconductor imports, potentially as high as 200% to 300%, aiming to encourage domestic manufacturing [6][7][8] - This strategy could lead to significant expenses and uncertainties for businesses, potentially disrupting global supply chains [8][9] - Investors may face challenges due to steep tariffs unless substantial exemptions are provided [9] Ethereum and Cryptocurrency Market - Ethereum (ETH) saw a 25% increase between July 17 and the following Tuesday, with a notable 275% gain reported by options traders [10][19] - Ethereum's unique properties, such as its built-in scarcity and utility in decentralized applications, make it increasingly competitive with traditional financial instruments [11][14][15] - The current market conditions show a spike in implied volatility, which has shifted from being a tailwind to a headwind for buyers, prompting a strategic exit for some traders [24][25]

In its upcoming report, Kroger (KR) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $1.44 per share, reflecting an increase of 0.7% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $45.38 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 0.3%.Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.Prior to a company's earni ...