Business Lookahead: Banks and rates

STORY: From U.S. inflation data and banks reporting earnings, to rate decisions in New Zealand and South Korea, these are the stories to watch in business and finance in the coming week.

:: Look Ahead

:: Inflation update

Thursday's monthly U.S. consumer price index reading will shape views on whether the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates in the coming months.

Chair Jerome Powell is also set to testify before Congress on Tuesday.

He’s said the U.S. is back on a “disinflationary path,” but policymakers need more data before cutting rates.

:: Bank earnings

U.S. banks are set to kick off their second-quarter reporting season.

JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo report earnings on Friday, with Bank of America doing so a few days later.

:: France goes back to the polls

France goes back to the polls on Sunday for the second round of its shock snap election.

The idea of higher spending under Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally — or even from a leftist government — rocked markets in June.

But a cross-party bid to keep Le Pen’s party from power has reduced the odds of it getting an absolute majority.

:: Policy pivots?

Investors are looking for clues on whether rate cuts are coming this year in New Zealand and South Korea.

Both central banks have taken a cautious stance amid stubbornly high inflation.

They’re expected to keep rates steady at 15-year highs at their respective meetings on Wednesday and Thursday.