Good morning!

After a busy week of economic data, things will be a little more relaxed this week, with just a handful of major retailers reporting earnings and minutes from the Fed's July meeting to scrutinize. Here's what's happening ...

• Among the more than 300 companies reporting earnings this week, big-box retailers take center stage. This morning, numbers are due from Home Depot, Medtronic, Alcon, and Keysight Industries, followed Wednesday by TJX Companies (TJMaxx), Lowe's, Target, Analog Devices, Estee Lauder, and Baidu. Thursday earnings are up for Walmart, Alibaba, Intuit, Ross Stores, and Zoom, followed Friday by BJ's Wholesale and RLX Technology. *

• The Federal Reserve will release minutes from its July meeting on Wednesday, offering a closer look at the discussions behind its decision to hold interest rates steady. Attention will then shift to the annual Jackson Hole symposium in Wyoming, where central bankers from around the world will convene and Fed Chair Jerome Powell is set to speak on Friday. Investors are expected to parse his comments carefully for signals about the Fed’s direction heading into September’s policy meeting. Meanwhile, the widening gap between short- and long-term U.S. borrowing costs reflects growing market confidence that rate cuts are coming—a move President Trump has actively endorsed. **

• U.S. homebuilder sentiment slid again in August, with the NAHB Housing Market Index falling to a 12‑month low of 32—missing forecasts and edging closer to the pandemic-era trough of 30 set in April 2020. The latest reading reflects ongoing price declines and weaker current sales, even as buyer traffic and optimism about future sales have ticked up. The downbeat report rippled into housing-related stocks, with names like Rocket Mortgage and Zillow finishing lower on Monday. ***

The financial advisors at Miramontes Capital diligently keep up with anything that can impact our clients' finances and tap into more than 175 years of combined investment experience. We do our all to keep your money protected and growing. If you think you might benefit from our financial experience and oversight, contact us today for a FREE, no-obligation consultation. Just call (800) 460-1595. Until next week...

Investment Advisory Services offered through Miramontes Capital, LLC. Securities offered through Balanced Security Planning, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Miramontes Capital, LLC and Balanced Security Planning, Inc. are separate companies affiliated through common control. This newsletter is solely for informational purposes. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Miramontes Capital, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Miramontes Capital, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place.