Economic Events and Corporate Reports: Tuesday, 4th August 2026 – JOLTS, Reports from Caterpillar, Pfizer, AMD, Toyota, and BP
Tuesday, 4th August 2026, marks the busiest day filled with corporate events at the beginning of the week on global financial markets. Investors are faced with a heavy influx of quarterly reports: before the US market opens, results will be released by Caterpillar, Pfizer, Merck, Spotify, and Marathon Petroleum, while after market close, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Amgen, Booking Holdings, and Gilead Sciences will report. The international segment is of equal significance: British BP, Japanese Toyota, and German BioNTech will also release their results. The macroeconomic agenda focuses on the US labour market, with the release of JOLTS data on job openings for June, a key indicator ahead of Friday's Nonfarm Payroll report. Additional insights will come from June's factory orders, the US trade balance, and weekly oil inventory statistics from API. For indices such as the S&P 500, Euro Stoxx 50, Nikkei 225, and Moscow Exchange, this day will serve as a test of the resilience of July's rally.
Key Events of the Day: A Brief Overview
- JOLTS: The number of job openings in the US for June — the day's main macro release.
- Factory orders and orders for durable goods in the US for June.
- US trade balance for June and weekly retail sales indicators.
- Corporate reports from the US: Caterpillar, Pfizer, Merck, AMD, Amgen, Booking, Gilead, Arista Networks, Devon Energy.
- International reports: BP (UK), Toyota (Japan), BioNTech (Germany), Coupang (South Korea).
- Weekly API data on US oil inventories — an evening benchmark for the commodity market.
US Labour Market: JOLTS Ahead of Friday's Payrolls
At 17:00 MSK, the JOLTS report on job openings in the American economy for June will be published. This is the first significant employment indicator of the week, culminating in Friday's July Nonfarm Payroll report. The logic for investors is straightforward:
- A decrease in job openings will confirm a cooling labour market and strengthen expectations for a softer Federal Reserve policy — positive for bonds and growth stocks.
- Unexpectedly strong data, on the other hand, will support Treasury yields and the dollar, applying pressure on the tech sector.
- The vacancy-to-unemployed ratio remains a key metric for the Federal Reserve regarding the balance of supply and demand in the labour market.
Orders, Trade, and Consumer Demand: US Statistics
Also at 17:00 MSK, factory orders and the final report on durable goods orders for June will be released — indicators of investment activity among American companies. In the morning, the US trade balance for June and preliminary trade data will provide insights into the dynamics of imports and exports, essential for assessing the contribution of foreign trade to GDP in the third quarter. Weekly retail sales indices from ICSC and Redbook will further complement the picture of the American consumer's status.
Oil Market: API Inventories and the Aftermath of OPEC+
At 23:30 MSK, the American Petroleum Institute (API) will publish weekly data on US oil and petroleum product inventories. The market continues to react to the outcomes of Sunday’s meeting of the OPEC+ joint monitoring committee, which confirmed a gradual increase in production set for September. Brent prices above $80 per barrel are boosting stocks in the oil and gas sector, particularly relevant on Tuesday amid reports from BP, Marathon Petroleum, Devon Energy, and Suncor.
Corporate Reports Before the US Market Opens
The morning session is anticipated to be one of the busiest in the second-quarter earnings season:
- Caterpillar — a barometer of global industry: consensus anticipates earnings of around $6.20 per share (+31% year on year) with revenue of approximately $19.2 billion; focus remains on demand for construction machinery and energy equipment for data centres.
- Pfizer and Merck — large pharma segment: dynamics of key drugs, annual forecasts, and strategies in the face of price pressures on medications in the US.
- Spotify — growth in subscriber numbers and the profitability of the streaming business.
- Marathon Petroleum, Energy Transfer, MPLX — refining and midstream segment amid high crack margins.
- Duke Energy, Kimberly-Clark, Sysco, Archer-Daniels-Midland, TransDigm, Cummins, Rockwell Automation, DuPont, Apollo Global — a broad representation of defensive and industrial sectors within the S&P 500.
Reports After Market Close: AMD in the Spotlight
The evening session is focused on technology and healthcare:
- Advanced Micro Devices — the day’s main report: the market expects earnings of about $1.61 per share on revenue of approximately $11.3 billion (+47% year on year); a key question will be the sales pace of MI350 accelerators for AI data centres and forecasts for new MI450 chips.
- Amgen and Gilead Sciences — continuing the day’s pharmaceutical marathon.
- Booking Holdings — an indicator of global tourism demand at the height of the summer season.
- Arista Networks — networking equipment for AI infrastructure, a beneficiary of capital expenditures from hyperscalers.
- Devon Energy, Suncor, Coterra — the oil and gas segment of the evening.
- Pinterest, Match Group, Lucid, Upstart, Wynn Resorts, Toast — volatile stories from the consumer and technology segments.
Europe and Asia: BP, Toyota, and BioNTech
The international calendar for Tuesday sets a global tone:
- BP — quarterly results from the British major: share buyback volumes, production, and cost discipline will shape sentiment within the European oil and gas sector and affect the dynamics of the FTSE 100.
- Toyota Motor — report for the first quarter of the 2027 financial year: the impact of US tariffs on margins, hybrid sales, and forecasts for the yen are key events for the Nikkei 225.
- BioNTech — the German biotech firm reports amid its transformation into an oncology-focused company.
- Coupang — the largest e-commerce player in South Korea, an indicator of Asian consumer demand.
- Tower Semiconductor — the Israeli contract chip manufacturer will add to the semiconductor agenda.
Russia and CIS Markets: A Pause Before Midweek
The corporate calendar for the Moscow Exchange on Tuesday is quiet: major events have been shifted to the middle and end of the week. Investors should keep an eye on:
- The expected report from Rostelecom on IFRS for the first half of 2026 on 5th August;
- Operational results from MD Medical for the second quarter, published at the beginning of the week;
- Upcoming dividend cut-offs at the end of the week, including Akron shares;
- The dynamics of oil and the rouble following OPEC+ decisions as the main driver for the Moscow Exchange index.
Context of the Week: From JOLTS to Nonfarm Payrolls
Tuesday serves as an intermediate link in a busy week. Ahead are announcements regarding the refinancing of US Treasury and ISM Services on Wednesday, the Bank of England meeting on Thursday, and the July US employment report on Friday. The JOLTS data and corporate forecasts on Tuesday will shape market positioning before these key events, and the density of reports makes this day one of the most volatile for individual S&P 500 stocks.
What to Watch for Investors on 4th August 2026
- AMD's report after market close — a critical test for the semiconductor sector following July's correction: forecasts on AI accelerators could set the tone for the entire Nasdaq.
- JOLTS data — the first piece of the puzzle in the US labour market picture ahead of Friday’s Payrolls and a guide for expectations regarding Fed rates.
- Caterpillar and Cummins — the state of the global industrial cycle and demand for AI energy infrastructure.
- BP and Toyota reports — the impact of tariffs and commodity dynamics on European and Japanese markets; Toyota's results are crucial for the Nikkei 225.
- The pharma marathon of Pfizer, Merck, Amgen, Gilead — the healthcare sector under pressure from price regulation: annual forecasts are highly significant.
- API oil inventories — the evening benchmark for Brent prices and the shares of oil and gas companies, including Russian stocks on the Moscow Exchange.
Tuesday, 4th August 2026, combines peak corporate reporting density with essential US labour market statistics. Investors should proactively assess risks related to positions in semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, monitor management forecasts with equal attention as the actual figures, and consider that reactions to JOLTS may be intensified by anticipation for Friday’s employment report.
