Wall Street Week Ahead

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Wall Street heads into the new week with investors focused on inflation data and energy.

Oil will be an early driver, with OPEC+ meeting Sunday to decide on output policy amid the surge in prices with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and whipsawing expectations for either escalation or de-escalation in the Iran war.

The macro spotlight will fall on inflation reports, with the core PCE index due Thursday and the March Consumer Price Index on Friday. Economists expect core CPI to hold at 2.5% annually, making the data critical for shaping expectations around Federal Reserve policy. Fed minutes on Wednesday and remarks from policymakers, including Austan Goolsbee, will also be closely watched.

Earnings are led by Delta Air Lines (DAL), Constellation Brands (STZ), Levi Strauss (LEVI), and BlackBerry (BB), offering insight into travel demand, consumer trends, and enterprise spending.

In tech, the HumanX AI Conference in San Francisco will feature companies including Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Alphabet (GOOGL), keeping AI momentum in focus.

Earnings spotlight: Tuesday, April 7: Levi Strauss (LEVI). See the full earnings calendar.

Earnings spotlight: Wednesday, April 8: Constellation Brands (STZ), Delta Air Lines (DAL), Applied Digital (APLD). See the full earnings calendar.

Earnings spotlight: Thursday, April 9: BlackBerry (BB). See the full earnings calendar.

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Earlier this month, James A. Kostohryz, leader of the Investing Group Successful Portfolio Strategy, sat down for a critical conversation with Seeking Alpha’s Rena Sherbill to discuss the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. James brings decades of experience in global macro analysis and has been remarkably prescient regarding the protracted nature of this war and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

This is a deep dive into a portfolio strategy system designed to empower investors to achieve superior performance through tactical asset allocation and mentorship. View the full podcast replay here. Here’s a summary:

War Scenarios and Timelines: James argues that the conflict is driven by non-negotiable security goals: eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities and long-range missile stockpiles. He envisions two primary timelines:
• A “Moderately Bearish” Scenario: Lasting another 6–8 weeks, potentially leading to a 30% S&P 500 decline and oil prices hitting $150–$200.
• A “Severe” Scenario: A protracted, multi-month conflict involving a multinational force to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. This could result in a 50% market crash and $300 oil.

Investment Strategy: James recommends an aggressive defensive posture, favoring cash (money market funds) over long-term bonds:
• Energy: He is “aggressively positioned” in non-Middle Eastern international Exploration and Production (E&P) stocks and Brent crude (BNO).
• Bonds and Gold: He warns against corporate bonds and views gold as currently overvalued. However, he suggests watching for Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, known as TIPS, if real yields hit 3%.
• Sectors to Avoid: He is wary of industrial metals (copper, aluminum) and cyclical value stocks due to looming global recession risks.

James’s service empowers investors through a tactical portfolio system featuring two model portfolios, video analysis, and direct mentorship. For a limited time, new members can access a 14-day free trial, followed by a rate of $499.00/yr. Learn More >>