There are a couple of interest-rate decisions to look out for next week. The People’s Bank of China will announce its latest loan prime rate. It is likely to sit on its hands again. It has kept interest rates at a record low of 3% for 15 straight months, which is not surprising. That’s because China’s economic growth has been under pressure, and the Chinese housing market continues to be in decline.
Bank Indonesia has an interest-rate decision to make, too. It has been hiking interest rates to shore up the rupiah. Meanwhile, the inflation rate has been within the bank’s target of 1.5% and 3.5%. So, there is no urgency to raise the key interest rate. But the Fed’s latest interest-rate hike could throw a spanner in the works.
Other economic data to keep an eye in include Singapore’s inflation rate and Singapore’s August industrial production numbers. The headline inflation number is expected to be unchanged at 2.2%. But the core inflation rate could have crept up to 2.1% from 2.0% last time. Meanwhile, growth in industrial production could have moderated to 6.0% from a high of 17.8% in May.
On the corporate front
The key earnings season is still a few weeks away. But Costco Wholesale (Nasdaq: COST) could be one to watch when it reports full-year results on Thursday. The warehouse club is a car owners’ favourite when petrol prices are high. It will be interesting to see how membership has fared as affordability hits household budgets worldwide, as the US-Iran shows no signs of ending.
Cereal maker General Mills (NYSE: GIS) is another bellwether for the US economy. Bean counters expect a decline in both first-quarter revenue and earnings per share. But the maker of Cheerios breakfast cereals could provide some valuable insights into shopping habits of households and the state of play on food-price inflation when it reports first-quarter numbers on Wednesday.
Blackberry (Nasdaq: BB) is expected to report an increase in second-quarter revenue on Thursday. However, earnings could be flat. Blackberry no longer makes mobile phones, but it has found a lease of life in the business of high-security software and Internet of Things. Its shares have more than doubled the last six months.
Football club Manchester United (NYSE: MANU) will report full-year results on Wednesday. Whilst ManU has enjoyed a successful 2025 Premier League season by securing a third-place finish, the revenue from UEFA broadcasting rights won’t show up until the next financial period. In the third quarter, the Red Devils swung to an operating profit, on revenue that jumped 18.1%.
If you’d like to learn more investing concepts, and how to apply them to your investing needs, sign up for our free investing education newsletter, Get Smart! Click HERE to sign up now.
Get more stock updates on our Facebook page. Click here to like and follow us on Facebook.
