Published August 17, 2026 Updated about 4 hours ago NEW YORK: Investors head into next week weighing familiar concerns over interest rates, inflation and geopolitical tensions against another robust earnings season that continues to keep stocks supported. With little fresh guidance from policymakers and uncertainty brewing over the US Federal Reserve’s next move, many investors are increasingly looking to corporate earnings — fueled in part by spending on AI infrastructure — to validate bullish assumptions and offset macroeconomic risks. “The primary thing is going to continue to be the Federal Reserve,” said Shawn Snyder, economic strategist at Potomac Fund Management. He sees the August 27 to 29 Jackson Hole symposium as the next major opportunity for policymakers to provide clarity on how they are interpreting inflation and growth. “If you can’t look to the Fed for guidance, then you have to increasingly look to earnings for guidance.” For investors like Snyder, the focus is less on a specific rate signal and more on whether policymakers can articulate a credible framework for navigating inflation and growth after bouts of mixed messaging. That uncertainty has kept markets closely focused on real Treasury yields — returns adjusted for inflation — a key driver of asset prices. Rising yields can pressure technology stocks and other long-duration assets by increasing financing costs. The dynamic is particularly important for AI-related companies and hyperscalers whose shares have been among the market’s biggest drivers this year. The S&P 500 hit a record high on Thursday as technology shares climbed and falling oil prices boosted risk appetite after a softer-than-expected US producer price report. Treasury yields also fell as markets pared back rate-hike expectations next month. Stocks and the S&P 500 information technology index have notched modest gains this week. Even so, investors remain alert to signs inflation could reaccelerate. Elevated energy prices and stalled US-Iran talks have raised concerns that oil markets could jolt higher, potentially adding pressure to consumer prices and bond yields. For now, however, strong corporate…