The stock market is heading into a catalyst-filled week as Fed Chair Jerome Powell gets ready to speak at Jackson Hole and big retailers report earnings.

Later this week, economists, central bankers and members of the business press will gather in Jackson Hole, Wyo. for the Kansas City Fed’s annual Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium.

Wall Street will be listening closely to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech Friday at the Jackson Hole economic policy summit, where he could signal whether the central bank is ready to cut borrowing costs at its next meeting in September.

Gold was little changed as traders weighed US-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine, and counted down to the Federal Reserve’s annual Jackson Hole gathering, which may yield hints on possible rate cuts.

Stocks start the week just shy of record highs, underpinned by a well-received corporate earnings season and hopes the Federal Reserve will soon start reducing official borrowing costs again. Investors are therefore keen that Friday’s keynote address by Fed Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium will be suitably dovish.