Markets were volatile last week, with another stronger than expected inflation report in the US rattling investors and pushing out hope for interest rate cuts. Wednesday's release of our own consumer price index for the March 2024 quarter will be the key event here in New Zealand, with markets hopeful this will be fall further and open the door to Official Cash Rate cuts later in the year. Elsewhere, Federal Reserve speakers will be closely watched to see recent developments have changed their view, while the quarterly international reporting season heats up. More than 40 S&P 500 companies scheduled to announce results in the days ahead, with some of the highlights likely to be Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHeatlh, ASML, LVMH, Netflix, TSMC and Procter & Gamble.