"Markets Brace for Inflation Data and Bank Earnings Amidst a Defining Week Ahead"

The upcoming week on Wall Street will be marked by the start of the corporate earnings season, with reports from major financial institutions and key inflation data releases. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) for December will provide insights into inflation trends, which are crucial for the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions. Investors are anticipating earnings reports from JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, BlackRock, and Citi. The market is currently debating when the Fed will cut interest rates, with Goldman Sachs predicting cuts starting in March. The financial sector's performance in the fourth quarter will be closely watched, especially as estimates for S&P 500 earnings have seen a significant decline since September.