4 Key Stock Market Trends to Watch This Week

Rising oil prices, employment data, consumer sentiment, and energy industry events will be in focus.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:24pm

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Investors may see a relatively quiet week ahead as earnings season winds down, but several key economic reports and industry events will still be closely watched. The ongoing war in Iran and its impact on oil prices, the state of the job market, consumer sentiment, and the energy industry's outlook will be among the top concerns.

Why it matters

Oil prices are a major driver of the global economy, so their continued rise due to the Iran conflict could have widespread implications for corporate earnings, consumer spending, and inflation. Employment and consumer confidence data will provide insights into the health of the U.S. economy, while the energy industry conference will shed light on the sector's challenges and opportunities.

The details

Investors will be closely monitoring weekly jobless claims, productivity and labor cost data, and the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey for clues about the strength of the job market and consumer spending. The S&P Global CERAWeek energy conference will also be a key event, with discussions focused on the impact of the Iran war and the growing demand for energy driven by AI initiatives. Additionally, earnings from companies like KB Home, Winnebago, and Carnival will offer insights into the housing and consumer sectors.

  • The weekly initial jobless claims report will be released on Thursday, March 26.
  • The productivity and unit labor costs report will be published on Tuesday, March 24.
  • The University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers will be released on Friday, March 27.
  • The S&P Global CERAWeek conference will take place from Monday, March 23 through Friday, March 27.
  • KB Home is scheduled to report earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, March 24.

The players

Iran

The ongoing conflict in Iran and its impact on global oil supplies is a major concern for investors.

U.S. Economy

Economic data on employment, productivity, and consumer sentiment will provide insights into the health of the U.S. economy.

S&P Global CERAWeek

This annual energy industry conference brings together government officials and experts to discuss energy, climate, and geopolitics.

KB Home

As one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., KB Home's earnings report will offer insights into the housing market.

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What’s next

Investors will be closely watching the Federal Reserve's next moves on interest rates, as rising oil prices and concerns about economic stagnation could prompt the central bank to reconsider its previous rate hike plans.

The takeaway

The ongoing conflict in Iran and its impact on global oil supplies will remain a key focus for investors this week, as rising energy prices could have far-reaching consequences for the broader economy. Economic data and corporate earnings reports will provide further insights into the health of the U.S. economy and consumer sentiment.