06:47 AM EST, 01/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity investors will focus on heavyweight earnings this week while tuning into potential trade policy announcements from the Trump administration and evolving macroeconomic data.
* US equity indexes rose last week, heading toward record highs, as easing core inflation rates helped push government bond yields lower and mega-cap financials started the Q4 earnings season on a strong note. Netflix (NFLX), United Airlines (UAL), Charles Schwab (SCHW), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Texas Instruments (TXN), and American Express (AXP) are among the large-cap companies reporting this week.
* President Donald Trump stopped short of announcing fresh import taxes on his first day in office, but said his administration plans to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Feb. 1, CNN reported.
* Mexico and Canada -- responsible for 30% of all US imports -- are bracing for impact, according to a note from DeVere Group. The US imported $475 billion worth of goods from Mexico and $418 billion from Canada last year, from cars to groceries. It exported $354 billion worth of goods to Canada and $322 billion to Mexico last year.
* "Trump has ordered a probe into trade deficits and their national security risks, signaling more tariffs could be on the way," Nigel Green, chief executive officer of DeVere Group, said in a note Tuesday. "This isn't just about Mexico and Canada--it's about rewriting the global trade playbook."
* US Macroeconomic data this week includes Redbook same-store sales and leading indicators data for December on Wednesday and weekly jobless claims on Thursday. The S&P Global flash estimates for manufacturing and services conditions for January, and the final University of Michigan consumer sentiment reading for January are due on Friday.
* The Federal Open Market Committee will be in its quiet period ahead of the Jan. 28-29 meeting.