Costco Set to Announce Positive Quarterly Earnings, Analysts Predict\n\nCostco Wholesale (COST) is gearing up to release their latest quarterly earnings report this Thursday, with analysts anticipating positive results for the company. A recent upgrade from Deutsche Bank, trading volume for the stock has slowed down slightly. The On-Balance-Volume (OBV) line has consistently shown gains over the past year, further solidifying the company’s strong performance.\n\nAccording to Wall Street analysts, Costco is expected to report earnings of $3.44 per share for the quarter, a significant increase of 11% from the same period last year. Revenues are also projected to reach $57.62 billion, a 5.8% jump from the previous year. \n\nAnalysts are also predicting positive results for specific key metrics, such as membership fees, net sales, and geographic revenue in Canada, other international markets, and the United States. The company is also expected to see growth in the number of warehouses worldwide, with a projected total of 871 compared to 845 in the previous year.\n\n a recent change of +5.8% in the stock’s value, Costco’s performance has outpaced the Zacks S&P 500 composite, which saw a +5.3% change in the past month. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), the company is expected to continue mirroring the overall market performance in the near future.\n\nIn a analysts are optimistic about Costco’s upcoming quarterly earnings report, with positive projections for various key metrics.

'Asian Shares Poised to Gain Ahead of Key Economic Data and Central Bank Meetings\n\nInvestors are anticipating gains in Asian shares as they await key US economic data and meetings from major central banks. These events will provide fresh clues about the likelihood of rate cuts in the coming year. Futures for Japan and Hong Kong point to a strong opening for their share markets, while Australian stocks are also set to edge higher.\n\nThe S&P 500 index remained above 4,600, while the Nasdaq 100 outperformed with a rally in chipmakers. After the closing bell, Oracle Corp. Reported disappointing sales on slowing cloud momentum. Treasury 10-year yields and the dollar were little changed. Tuesday’s consumer price index will give Wall Street a sense of whether the disinflation trend is continuing.\n\nThe report will be released a day before the last scheduled Federal Reserve decision of 2023, with officials widely expected to hold rates and announce their Summary of Economic Projections. The question is whether the Fed will try to temper policy easing expectations after investors aggressively repriced for a dovish stance.\n\nAttention will also turn to a key meeting of Chinese economic policymakers at an annual year-end conference, where the future agenda will be set after a lackluster 2023. Meanwhile, Bank of Japan officials see little need to rush into scrapping the world’s last negative interest rate this month.\n\nA survey conducted by 22V Research shows that 46% of investors polled think the market reaction to CPI will be mixed or negligible, 28% are betting on a “risk-off” event, and only 26% see a “risk-on” response. According to Greg Marcus at UBS Private Wealth Management, the recent strength in stocks is largely based on expectations of a soft landing and lower rates in 2024.\n\n Marcus adds that the Fed may cut rates next year due to a slowing economy, which would result in a different market outlook. Megan Horneman at Verdence Capital \n\nUS consumers’ near-term inflation expectations dropped in November, according to a Fed Bank of New York survey. Matthew Weller at Forex.com and City Index notes that some investors may expect volatility around the CPI data, but with the Fed committed to leaving rates higher for longer, there may not be as much movement as in the past.\n\nIn a investors are eagerly awaiting key economic data and central bank meetings this week, which will provide fresh clues about the likelihood of rate cuts in the coming year.'