Business Lookahead: Lots of talk, lots of tech

Published: 2026-04-24 17:11:54 ET XOM

Published on 04/24/2026 at 05:11 pm EDT

STORY: From volatility in Iran to a mega earnings week, these are the stories to watch in business and finance in the coming week.

:: Corridor of power

Will progress be made on reopening the Strait of Hormuz?

That's the question that continues to dominate amid some relief of ceasefires being extended.

Diplomacy, any sign of back-channel talks, and social media post from both the U.S. president and Iran's supreme leader will all continue to drive volatility.

:: Ka-Powell!

The Federal Reserve is expected to keep U.S. interest rates steady on Wednesday.

That means it will mostly be about its signals for the months ahead, given most economists think cuts are off the table for now.

An intriguing subplot is whether this will be Jerome Powell's last meeting in charge.

The 73-year-old's term as Fed chair is due to end next month.

Also, first-quarter GDP and the personal consumption expenditures price index for March are both due out on Thursday.

:: Big tech's big week

Reports from five of the "Magnificent Seven" megacap companies headline a deluge of first-quarter earnings next week.

It comes at a time when almost unshakable investor optimism about AI-driven profits is providing critical support for near-record high equity indexes.

On Wednesday, reports are due from Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta, followed by Apple on Thursday.

It is not just tech though. More than a third of the S&P 500 are reporting next week, including weight-loss drugmaker Eli Lilly, oil major Exxon Mobil, and credit card giant Visa.