Key Market Events This Week: Trump-Xi Meeting, Meta’s AI Conference, and Costco (COST) Earnings

Quick Summary

• A highly anticipated summit between President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping is set for September 24, where trade tensions, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical matters will be discussed.
• Meta’s Connect conference on Wednesday will feature CEO Mark Zuckerberg, with artificial intelligence advancements expected to dominate the agenda.
• Costco’s fiscal fourth-quarter financial results arrive Thursday, offering fresh insights into American consumer behavior.
• The United Nations General Assembly continues its high-level meetings in New York, with the general debate scheduled from September 22 through September 28.
• Market participants will monitor U.S. purchasing managers’ index figures and commentary from multiple Federal Reserve policymakers after last week’s interest rate adjustment.

Market observers are preparing for a packed week filled with diplomatic engagements, economic indicators, tech sector developments, and quarterly corporate reports following last week’s uneven showing for American equities.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.7% during the prior five trading sessions, the S&P 500 registered a slight decrease, and the Nasdaq posted modest gains.

Focus now turns to multiple catalysts that may shape market sentiment through the month’s conclusion.

This Week’s Spotlight: Trump-Xi Diplomatic Engagement

Among the most significant developments is the September 24 bilateral meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for Washington.

JUST IN: Trump is bringing America’s most powerful AI executives to his state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24.

China accepted the invitation and immediately asked for MORE than half the roughly 100 seats at the table, per NPR.

Here’s who is… pic.twitter.com/6qfEUhH86h

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) September 18, 2026

The two heads of state plan to address trade relations, tariff policies, artificial intelligence governance, Taiwan’s status, Iran diplomacy, and access to strategic minerals.

Financial markets are anticipating potential signals regarding an extension of the tariff pause negotiated between both nations in the previous year.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng have explored establishing a communication framework for addressing significant artificial intelligence safety concerns.

This diplomatic encounter unfolds against continuing strategic rivalry between Washington and Beijing in the artificial intelligence domain.

Coming This Week: Meta’s AI Presentation and Global Diplomacy

Meta Platforms captures attention on Wednesday as CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers remarks at the corporation’s Connect gathering.

Market analysts anticipate revelations regarding Meta’s artificial intelligence roadmap and upcoming hardware offerings.

The conference arrives amid sustained heavy investment by Meta and rival technology giants in semiconductors, computing infrastructure, and AI capabilities.

Meanwhile, international leaders convene in New York for the United Nations General Assembly sessions.

The UN’s formal debate period launches September 22 and continues until September 28, addressing topics spanning armed conflicts, environmental strategy, and multilateral coordination.

Circumstances affecting the Middle East region warrant special observation following recent volatility in petroleum markets.

On the Calendar: Costco Results and American Economic Indicators

Costco delivers its fiscal fourth-quarter financial performance on Thursday.

#earnings for the week of September 21, 2026https://t.co/hLn2sKQhEY$COST $CBRL $BB $THO $ABVX $DRI $GIS $KBH $MLKN $AZO $WOR $SFIX $FUL $CTAS $PAYX $SCHL $SNX $LGCY $NEOV $AYTU pic.twitter.com/ThDj6F0LQ9

— Earnings Whispers (@eWhispers) September 18, 2026

The membership-based retailer serves as a valuable indicator of consumer financial health amid elevated expenses for energy and groceries.

Costco has previously highlighted robust interest in reduced-price gasoline offerings, though elevated fuel transactions don’t necessarily correlate with increased in-store merchandise purchases.

Additional corporations presenting earnings this week include AutoZone, General Mills, Cracker Barrel, BlackBerry, and Darden Restaurants.

Market participants will also examine S&P Global’s preliminary U.S. purchasing managers’ surveys for September.

The services PMI projection stands at 56.0, down from 56.5, while the manufacturing figure is anticipated at 53.4 versus the prior 53.9. Values exceeding 50 signal economic expansion.

Multiple Federal Reserve representatives are slated to deliver public remarks throughout the week after the central bank implemented its first rate hike in three years.

Between the Trump-Xi diplomatic meeting, Meta’s artificial intelligence conference, Costco’s quarterly disclosure, and incoming economic statistics, investors confront numerous potentially consequential developments before the week concludes.