Powell’s Jackson Hole speech looms as markets temper Fed rate-cut bets, with hot PPI data, labor market weakness, and tariff risks clouding outlook.

The stock market is heading into a catalyst-filled week as Fed Chair Jerome Powell gets ready to speak at Jackson Hole and big retailers report earnings.

Stocks start the week just shy of record highs, underpinned by a well-received corporate earnings season and hopes the Federal Reserve will soon start reducing official borrowing costs again. Investors are therefore keen that Friday’s keynote address by Fed Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium will be suitably dovish.

By Ishaan Arora (Reuters) -Gold ticked up on Wednesday but hovered near three-week lows, as investors looked towards the Federal Reserve's July meeting minutes and the Jackson Hole, Wyoming symposium of central bankers this week for cues on further rate cuts.

At the end of the week, investors look forward to Powell's speech at the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium.