Here are the 2 big things we're watching in this week's stock market
We're looking forward to what promises to be a consequential Federal Reserve meeting and a slew of conferences.
FED Meeting Anticipated
Investors are gearing up for a pivotal Federal Reserve policy session that runs for two days this week. The central bank is slated to announce its interest‑rate decision on Wednesday afternoon, and market pricing currently reflects almost a 90% chance of a hike. The expectation follows last week’s August core consumer‑price index, which rose 0.3%—a touch above forecasts. Core CPI strips out the more erratic food and energy categories, giving a clearer view of underlying inflation trends.
Key Economic Data
The same morning the Fed’s verdict is released, the August retail‑sales figure will be published. Because consumer spending makes up roughly two‑thirds of U.S. gross domestic product, the report is a vital gauge of economic momentum. Thursday brings housing‑market metrics, including August housing starts and pending home‑sale data, both of which carry outsized weight in the broader economy. Those numbers will not yet reflect last week’s jump in the 30‑year fixed mortgage rate, which climbed past the 7% mark. The week closes with Friday’s release of August industrial‑production and capacity‑utilization statistics, offering insight into the manufacturing sector’s health.
Dreamforce Conference
The headline event of the week is Dreamforce 2026, held in San Francisco from Tuesday through Thursday. Salesforce’s annual showcase draws tens of thousands of customers, partners and technology leaders, and features musical performances by Usher and Gwen Stefani to benefit UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. CNBC host Jim Cramer will be on‑site for three days, conducting live segments and sitting down with Salesforce chief Marc Benioff for a “Mad Money” interview after the CEO’s keynote. Salesforce’s stock has rallied 50% over the past three months, nearly erasing its year‑to‑date loss as investor worries about artificial‑intelligence disruption have eased.
Corporate Presentations
A slate of earnings calls and conference appearances fills the calendar. On Monday, Cardinal Health, Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly will speak at Morgan Stanley’s global healthcare forum. Cardinal Health also appears at Baird’s health conference on Tuesday, while Wells Fargo presents at Barclays’ financial‑services gathering the same day. Honeywell, Home Depot, GE Vernova, Eaton and Boeing are slated for sessions at Morgan Stanley’s Laguna conference and Goldman Sachs‑Barclays events throughout the week. Johnson & Johnson rounds out the schedule with a talk at Deutsche Bank’s healthcare summit on Thursday.
Johnson & Johnson Spotlight
Johnson & Johnson’s agenda receives extra attention because of its newly unveiled Ottava robotic‑surgery platform. The company will discuss the system during its Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank appearances, and analysts will be watching for clues on how the technology could expand J&J’s footprint in the high‑margin surgical‑robot market.
Jim Cramer Activities
Cramer will be broadcasting from San Francisco on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, providing live market commentary and interviewing Benioff. Subscribers to the CNBC Investing Club will receive a trade alert before Cramer executes any position in his charitable trust, with a mandatory 45‑minute waiting period after the alert and a 72‑hour hold if the stock has been featured on CNBC television.
Weekly Schedule
Monday, Sept. 14 – Hain Celestial reports before the bell; Dave & Buster’s after. Cardinal Health, Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly appear at Morgan Stanley.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – Trip.com reports after the bell; Wells Fargo at Barclays, Cardinal Health at Baird, Home Depot at Goldman Sachs, Dreamforce keynote with Benioff, Honeywell at Morgan Stanley.
Wednesday, Sept. 16 – LuxExperience reports before the bell; Lenna after. Retail‑sales data released, followed by GE Vernova, Capital One, Goldman Sachs, the Fed meeting, Boeing and Eaton at Morgan Stanley.
Thursday, Sept. 17 – Housing starts, initial jobless claims and pending home‑sales data released; Johnson & Johnson at Deutsche Bank.
Friday, Sept. 18 – Industrial‑production and capacity‑utilization numbers released.
Source: CNBC · 2026-09-13