US equity investors are expected to focus on inflation and Fed speak this week while keeping a close watch on geopolitical developments related to Iran and quarterly earnings.

* Consumer and wholesale price inflation data is due Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Retail sales will be out Friday while existing home sales are scheduled for Tuesday.

* Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, who was one of the three dissenters at the July Federal Open Market Committee meeting seeking a quarter of a percentage point increase in interest rates, and Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin will be delivering speeches on Thursday, a day after the CPI is due for release.

* Currently, there is a 56% probability that the Fed will leave the target rate unchanged at 3.5% to 3.75% at its upcoming September policy meeting, up from 33% a week ago, due to a decline in July's nonfarm payrolls released late last week.

* "I buy that near-term inflation risk remains elevated and an overly data-dependent FOMC may well react by raising rates," a Scotiabank note said late Friday. "In the context of lagging effects of monetary tightening, however, I don't see this as appropriate in the face of how inflation risk is likely to evolve in a medium-term sense."

* Cisco (CSCO), Applied Materials (AMAT), CoreWeave (CRWV), Rocket Lab (RKLB) and Simon Property Group (SPG) are among the companies reporting quarterly results.

* Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday an agreement with Oman on the strait was in its "final stages" but reiterated comments made on Saturday that Tehran would not reopen the channel unless the US met certain demands made by Tehran, Reuters reported. These include compensation and an end to sanctions and military threats, before the strategic waterway is reopened, the news report said.

* President Donald Trump has signaled a US emphasis on increasing economic pressure on Iran, saying that Washington is "low-keying" negotiations with the country, according to CNN.