What To Expect in the Markets This Week

March employment data is on tap this week, but investors and other market watchers may be watching other events coming out of Washington even more closely.

A slew of new trade policies could be outlined on Wednesday, while some of President Donald Trump’s previously outlined tariffs are set to take effect early Thursday morning. As the president’s plans have evolved in recent weeks, markets have been roiled. An update to the U.S. trade deficit is also expected Thursday, and investors will be watching factory orders data and manufacturing and services sector survey updates during the week to look for impacts from U.S. tariff policies amid continued market volatility. 

Market watchers also will be following the corporate earnings calendar, which includes food sellers Conagra Brands (CAG)  and Lamb Weston (LW), clothing retailers Guess (GES) and Calvin Klein parent PVH Corp. (PVH), and furniture store RH (RH). 

Monday, March 31

• Chicago Business Barometer (March)
• Loar Holdings (LOAR) and PVH Corp. are scheduled to report earnings

Tuesday, April 1

• S&P manufacturing PMI (March)
• Construction spending (February)
• ISM manufacturing PMI (March)
• Job openings (February)
• Ncino (NCNO) is scheduled to report earnings

Wednesday, April 2

• ADP employment (March)
• Factory orders (February)
• RH, UniFirst (UNF), and BlackBerry (BB) are scheduled to report earnings

Thursday, April 3

• Initial jobless claims (Week ending March 29)
• U.S. trade deficit (February)
• S&P U.S. Services PMI (March)
• ISM Services PMI (March)
• Conagra Brands, Acuity (AYI), Lamb Weston, and Guess are scheduled to report earnings

Friday, April 4

• U.S. employment report (March)
• Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak in Arlington, Virginia

Spotlight on March Employment Numbers, U.S. Trade Policy and Data

The latest employment data for March, expected trade news, and manufacturing and services sector data are in focus this week as investors continue to eye the impact that U.S. tariffs may have. 

Investors will be watching Friday’s scheduled jobs report amid continued strength in the labor market, which the Federal Reserve cited when it decided not to lower interest rates at its March meeting.  Job growth in February came in short of expectations, and unemployment ticked slightly higher to 4.1%, but last month showed that momentum continued in the labor market despite the headwinds of high interest rates. 

Job openings data, expected on Tuesday, the ADP private-sector hiring report, scheduled for Wednesday, and Thursday’s calendar item of weekly initial jobless claims are other employment-based economic indicators that market participants will be following this week.

Wednesday will be a big day for trade policy as President Trump is expected to unveil his plan for reciprocal tariffs and provide more details on other policies. Some previously outlined tariffs are set to take effect early Thursday morning. You can keep track of all of the tariff proposals and implementation here.

An update to the U.S. trade deficit comes amid market tensions over Trump’s tariff policies, which threaten to add costs and invite retaliatory taxes in response. Recent trade balance data showed that the U.S. trade gap with its trading partners was growing ahead of expected import taxes. 

Factory orders data on Wednesday follows last week’s report that durable goods orders were on the rise. Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey data scheduled to be released this week will show whether the struggling manufacturing sector is picking up in light of Trump’s proposed tariffs. 

Clothing, Food, Furniture Sellers’ Earnings Reports Come as Investors Watch Consumer Health

With consumer confidence wavering, scheduled earnings reports from retail and food companies will likely provide investors with some insight into the public’s appetite for spending and the impact of potential U.S. tariffs. 

Investors will be looking for consumer spending trends in the scheduled reports on Monday from clothing maker PVH Corp., whose brands include Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and from Guess on Thursday. 

The fourth-quarter reports come as retailers had another strong holiday season in 2024 but have begun tempering their outlooks for 2025 amid tariff threats and softening consumer spending. PVH is also contending with potential trade restrictions with China. 

Food sales are also in focus this week, with frozen dinner maker Conagra Brands and potato seller Lamb Weston both scheduled to report on Thursday. 

Conagra, whose products include Duncan Hines mixes, Healthy Choice prepared meals, and Birds Eye frozen vegetables, recently warned investors that its sales could be lower due to difficulties sourcing enough chicken and frozen produce. 

Lamb Weston’s report comes as activist investor Jana Partners seeks changes at the company, which reported surprising losses, a lowered outlook, and a change in leadership in its prior quarterly update.

Furniture retailer RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, is scheduled to report Wednesday after it raised its full-year outlook and swung to a profit last quarter, despite contending with a weak housing market.