Wall St Week Ahead: Investors to focus on geopolitics, data

Stock investors remain concerned that higher oil prices could stoke inflation and upset plans for interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. — Reuters

NEW YORK: Investors will focus on the Israel-Iran conflict and US economic data releases next week to assess the near-term outlook for stocks, as the S&P 500 hovers just below its February highs.

The S&P 500 has rebounded sharply from its early-April selloff, as tariff-related tensions have eased. However, the US benchmark index appears to be taking a breather at some 2.7% below its February closing high. The index has gone 27 trading sessions since coming within 5% of its February high but has not yet set a new record.