Week ahead: UK jobs data, Walmart and Target earnings eyed

14th Aug 2026 12:43

(Sharecast News) - The latest UK jobs data and quarterly results from US retailers Walmart and Target will be among the highlights next week.

Monday will be pretty quiet, although attention will turn to the latest Rightmove house price index.

On Tuesday, UK average earnings and unemployment data for June will be released, while in the US, quarterly earnings from Home Depot are due.

Wednesday will bring half-year results from Oxford Nanopore and the latest UK inflation figures for July.

TD Securities said: "We see UK [consumer price] inflation rising to 2.9% in July, driven almost fully by the Ofgem cap increase. Services inflation should ease to 3.4% as airfares distort lower on holiday timing, while core goods inflation rises to 1.0% on firmer electronics prices.

"Looking ahead, food, airfares, and core goods present upside inflation risks, suggesting the recent disinflation path may prove difficult to sustain."

In the US, quarterly results from TJX, Lowe's and Target will be in focus, along with the release of the latest FOMC minutes. Neil Wilson, UK investor strategist at Saxo Markets, said the minutes of the July meeting will be pored over for clues about how policymakers are thinking.

"The minutes take on added significance as chair Kevin Warsh has refrained from offering the usual forward guidance markets have become accustomed to and because there was an unusually large body of dissent, with three members voting to raise rates," he said. "The Federal Reserve left rates on hold and recent inflation data has shown a cooling in price pressures; nevertheless, a rate hike in September is far from off the table."

On Thursday, investors will eye full-year results from recruiter Hays and a trading statement from JD Sports.

AJ Bell analysts Russ Mould and Danni Hewson said JD Sports has already primed the market for a fourth consecutive year of falling profits, so the focus will be on the timing of a return to like-for-like sales growth.

"Ahead of the second-quarter trading update analysts are projecting a small increase in organic sales, counterbalanced by a 1.4% drop in like-for-like growth," they said. "Investors will be hoping for an update on the second tranche of JD's £200 million share buyback programme which officially started in August.

"Any slippage on the full year profit outlook or commentary on deteriorating macro conditions could see the shares trip on their shoelaces after a fledgling recovery since May."

In the US, quarterly results from Walmart, Deere & Co and Alibaba will be out, along with jobless claims.

Friday will see the release of UK retail sales and public sector net borrowing figures for July.