WSJ's Take On the Week

This week, we’re turning our attention to breakfast cereals and snacks. Kellogg, the company responsible for cereals like Frosted Flakes and snacks like Pringles, in early October split into two companies: WK Kellogg and Kellanova. WK Kellogg maintained the company’s cereal products, while Kellanova kept snacks. Snacks have been big business for companies, but with changes to eating habits brought on by obesity drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, these companies may face some struggles ahead. WK Kellogg and Kellanova are expected to report earnings this week, so we’re speaking with Pamela Kaufman, a Morgan Stanley equity analyst who covers the packaged goods industry, to find out if the separation of the snacks and cereal businesses will prove to be a winning combination and what reduced appetites may mean for investors. Then, we’re queuing up for Disney’s earnings report. Merriment has gotten significantly more expensive with costs for admission to places like Disney’s theme parks rising faster than prices for food and gasoline. What will this week’s earnings from Disney tell us about the cost of having fun? Robbie Whelan, who covers Disney for WSJ, joins us to discuss how Disney’s higher-than-ever amusement park prices and declining television business will affect the company’s bottom line. Lastly, we’re looking at China’s upcoming consumer and producer price index reports to learn how a slowed economy in China impacts investors here in the states. Further Reading America Is Binging on Snacks, and Food Companies Are Eating It Up  The Ozempic Craze Could Put These Companies on a Crash Diet  Ozempic: How the Diabetes Drug Works and Why It’s Such a Big Deal for Weight Loss  It’s Getting Too Expensive to Have Fun  Disney Raises Prices at Its Theme Parks  Disney Sheds New Light on ESPN’s Financial Challenges  For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com.

This week, we’re opening up our digital wallets and examining the current state of crypto. Wall Street hasn’t been talking much about crypto this year, and that silence has been golden for digital assets. The price of bitcoin has jumped by more than 100% year to date. Cryptocurrency exchange platform, Coinbase, is expected to report earnings this week so we’re chatting with Jeff Dorman, the chief investment officer of Arca, a crypto-focused asset manager, to find out why he thinks crypto will still come out on top despite bankruptcies, money laundering risks, and alleged fraud. It’s also Fed week. Members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee have been hard at work in recent weeks, making the case that moves in financial markets have done some of the Fed’s work for them, by tightening financial conditions. WSJ reporters Gunjan Banerji and Harriet Torry join us for a roundtable discussion on whether we should be expecting one final rate hike before the year’s end and how that could affect the market and investment portfolios. We wrap up with Starbucks. The popular coffee chain is also reporting earnings this week and we’ll be looking to see what their new CEO Laxman Narasihmhan has to share with investors about the health of retail, food service and U.S. consumers.   Further Reading U.S. Targets Crypto Mixers Over Money Laundering Risks  Crypto Lender Genesis Prepares to Liquidate Without Deal With Parent Company  Sam Bankman-Fried to Take the Stand in Fraud Trial  The Fed Is Putting Too Much Faith in Markets  For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com.

This week, we're looking ahead to the GDP data for the third quarter of 2023 to find out how much the American economy grew from July to September. Thanks to higher than expected numbers from the latest retail sales and jobs reports, economists have lowered the probability of a recession occurring next year to below 50 percent, the lowest it's been since summer 2022. With recession worries now taking a back seat, attention has shifted to the economy’s surprising growth and why it just might be too good to be true. KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk joins us to talk about that and what investors need to look for in this week’s GDP report. Then, we're talking Visa ahead of its expected earnings. WSJ reporter Angel Au-Yeung is here to explore how changes in the credit card fees charged to merchants could change how Visa and Mastercard do business, and what you pay at the store. We wrap things up getting Meta in Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse to see what the company’s expected earnings report this week could tell us about Meta’s social media platform Threads and whether it’s giving Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) a run for its money. Further Reading A Recession Is No Longer the Consensus Resilient U.S. Economy Defies Expectations Visa, Mastercard Prepare to Raise Credit-Card Fees  For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com. 

This week, we’re looking at what the Federal Reserve is watching as it plots the course of interest rate hikes. In their most recent meeting, last month, minutes revealed that a majority of Fed members say one more rate hike would be appropriate. We’re two weeks away from the next Fed meeting, and investors are paying close attention as the decisions made will play a significant role on consumer spending and banks’ deposits. Mary Daly, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve, joins us with her take on where the economy stands, and what people are telling her about their personal economic outlooks. With stalled progress in slowing inflation revealed in September’s consumer-price index report, the road to two percent may take longer than investors would like. Plus, we’re looking ahead to earnings reports coming this week from Goldman Sachs, Netflix, and Johnson & Johnson. Michael Farr, CEO of investment advisory firm Farr, Miller, & Washington, tells us why those are the companies he’ll have his eye on this week and what their earnings reports can tell investors about how consumers are spending their money. Further Reading Fed Minutes Show Officials Divided on Future Rate Rise  How Banks’ Deposit Pressures Could Get Worse, in Three Charts  Why Consumers Are Mad About Inflation Even Though It Has Fallen  This Inflation Report Won’t Let the Fed Declare Victory  For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com.

This week focuses on the rise in bond yields and its implications for interest rate hikes and banking, along with the upcoming earnings reports of JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and Delta Airlines. The podcast also explores the challenges faced by Delta with rising costs and changes to their Skymiles program. Additionally, it discusses the potential impact of Taylor Swift's concert film on the movie industry.

Economist Danielle DiMartino Booth predicts a recession as student loan payments resume. Constellation Brands' success with Modelo beer makes it a stock to watch. The UAW strike raises concerns over stock buybacks and CEO pay.

This week, we have our eye on the sneaker giant Nike. The company behind the Lebron 21, Air Force 1 and Air Jordans is expected to report its first quarter earnings, and it comes at a pivotal time. Nike stock is down around 20% year to date, as it faces a glut of inventory and a rash of thefts. Ahead of the holiday shopping season, Barclays analyst Adrienne Yih explains why she thinks it’s time to Just Do It and bet on Nike stock going higher. We’re also adjusting our collars as we gear up for Paris Fashion Week. What does the semiannual designer presentation tell us about how luxury brands are doing in the market? WSJ reporter Nick Kostov will let us know. And with the release of the new movie “Dumb Money” about the GameStop saga, we’re going to talk meme stocks with WSJ’s Gunjan Banerji. Further Reading How Nike Sneakers Get Stolen at Every Turn   Nike Broke Up With Retailers. Now It’s Trying to Win Them Back.   It’s Not Your Imagination—Shopping in Person Is Getting Worse   Americans Are Buying Less Bling   The World’s Richest Person Auditions His Five Children to Run LVMH, the Luxury Empire   For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com. 

The podcast discusses the Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision and its implications for the economy and stock market. Former Fed official Vincent Reinhart provides insights on the central bank's new approach. The struggles of shipping giant FedEx and its competition with UPS are also explored. The episode delves into the meaning of ESG investing and the challenges associated with it. Overall, the podcast provides valuable information for investors in the week of September 17.

The market’s next move will be determined by what happens with inflation, and this week, we’re looking ahead to the latest Consumer Price Index inflation report. One of the biggest drivers of inflation right now is housing costs. Chief economist at Zillow, Skylar Olsen, helps break down how the housing and rental markets are contributing to high inflation. Plus, WSJ’s Deputy Editor in Chief Charles Forelle joins to discuss Charles Schwab’s recent financial troubles and what those could mean for retail investors. 

WSJ’s Take On the Week is a new weekly podcast that looks ahead at the events on the economic and business calendar to explain what they mean for your money and investments. With straightforward analysis and insight from guests who know what matters, this show provides you with what you need to know to take on the week. Episode 1 will be available September 10.