US equity investors are expected to focus on macroeconomic data this week following recent soft prints that reduced the urgency for monetary policy tightening, while keeping an eye on any announcements that significantly ratchet up economic pain in Iran and quarterly earnings.

* Economic data due this week includes the July minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, S&P Global manufacturing and services purchasing managers' indexes, industrial production, building permits and housing starts. Last week, both headline and core consumer and wholesale price inflation rates for July declined from a year ago, and retail sales slid unexpectedly in the month, the most since May 2025.

* Watch for a potentially major escalation of trade and market tensions beginning this week, according to a note from Scotiabank late Friday. That's because US Treasury Secretary Bessent pledged to introduce "measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation of a country," referring to Iran.

* Home Depot (HD), Analog Devices (ADI), TJX Companies (TJX), Lowe's Companies (LOW), Target (TGT), Walmart (WMT), Deere (DE), Ross Stores (ROST), NetEase (NTES) are among the companies reporting quarterly results next week.

* The 60-day deadline for the conclusion of peace talks in the memorandum of understanding the US and Iran signed in June ended on Monday without any formal announcements so far to end the war.

* Talks between Iran and Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz are complex but continuing "in all seriousness," CNN reported, citing Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday.

* Baghaei said a "transit route map" has been agreed upon, but a final agreement including a joint statement has not been finalized, CNN cited reporting from Tasnim. Referring to one of the reasons for the delay, Baghaei said some "malevolent parties" want the region to "always be in a state of conflict and chaos."