The May 12–16 market preview combines powerful macroeconomic signals with high-impact earnings from some of the world’s most closely watched companies. As global inflation, consumer spending, and employment figures come into view, major players like Cisco, Alibaba, and JD.com will also report Q2 results. The combination is likely to bring clarity—or more volatility—to global markets.
Global Macro Outlook: What’s Driving the May 12–16 Market Preview
Tuesday, May 13
- UK March Jobless Data (06:00 GMT):
Unemployment is expected to rise slightly to 4.5%, while job growth slows to 115K, suggesting potential weakness in UK labor markets. - German ZEW Investor Confidence (09:00 GMT):
Forecast to rise to 6.9 points, investor sentiment in Germany remains cautious as current conditions linger deep in negative territory. - US April CPI (12:30 GMT):
Analysts expect a flat 2.4% year-over-year CPI, in line with prior readings. The data will influence inflation expectations and market risk sentiment.
Thursday, May 15
- UK Q1 GDP & March Growth (06:00 GMT):
Quarterly GDP is forecast to rise 0.6%, while monthly growth slows to 0.1%, signaling a fragile but improving British economy. - US April Retail Sales (12:30 GMT):
Expected to rise just 0.1% m/m, down sharply from February’s 1.4%. Weak numbers could raise new concerns over U.S. consumer resilience. - Japan Q1 GDP (23:50 GMT):
A mild contraction of −0.1% is expected, suggesting that Japan’s economic rebound is already stalling.
Friday, May 16
- Eurozone March Trade Balance (09:00 GMT):
While no specific estimate is provided, February’s €24 billion surplus sets a high bar. Minimal deviation is expected, though services may push growth slightly higher.
Top Earnings in the May 12–16 Market Preview
This week also delivers a flood of Q2 earnings reports across sectors like retail, cloud tech, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure.
| Company | Report Date | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| monday.com (MNDY) | Mon, May 12 – 7:00 AM ET | Forecast: +27.1% YoY revenue, strong AI-driven adoption |
| Rigetti Computing (RGTI) | Mon, May 12 – 4:05 PM ET | Expected to post a smaller loss; stock up over 44% since last report |
| Plug Power (PLUG) | Mon, May 12 – 5:00 PM ET | Likely to miss; options market implies 35% swing |
| JD.com (JD) | Tues, May 13 – 4:30 AM ET | Revenue expected to surpass $40B; bullish investor sentiment |
| Cisco (CSCO) | Wed, May 14 – 4:05 PM ET | EPS: $0.92; strong cloud segment performance expected |
| Alibaba (BABA) | Thurs, May 15 – 5:35 AM ET | EPS: $1.48; optimism driven by rising global e-commerce volumes |
| Applied Materials (AMAT) | Thurs, May 15 – 4:00 PM ET | EPS: $2.31 forecast; highly bullish options flow at 92.6% confidence |
Earnings Snapshot – May 12–16, 2025
Monday, May 12
- Before Market: monday.com, NRG, FOX
- After Market: Rigetti, Petrobras, Davita, Brinks
Tuesday, May 13
- Before Market: JD.com, Sea, Bayer, CyberArk
- After Market: Nu Holdings, Dynatrace, Tengen
Wednesday, May 14
- Before Market: Tencent, Sony
- After Market: Cisco, CoreWeave, Steris
Thursday, May 15
- Before Market: Walmart, Alibaba, John Deere
- After Market: Applied Materials, Copart, Cava
Friday, May 16
- Before Market: Richemont, RBC Bearings, Flowers Foods
Conclusion: Key Takeaways from the May 12–16 Market Preview
This week’s mix of macro data and corporate earnings provides a crucial lens into how consumers, corporations, and policymakers are navigating economic uncertainty. With U.S. CPI and retail sales expected to stay subdued, and major companies ready to unveil Q2 results, the May 12–16 market preview is essential for investors fine-tuning their strategies.
Stay sharp, stay informed—and stay flexible.
