A pedestrian carries shopping bags while crossing Market Street in downtown San Francisco. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Good morning. Good Monday. Good markets. Welcome back to the week ahead on Wall Street and a look at what investors need to know for the next five days. Geopolitical events, a stumbling economy and richly valued stocks are all staring the market in the face, yet the battle has been at worst a standoff so far. Now comes another week and a fresh set of challenges for investors to absorb.

The real deal with retail

Friday's monthly jobs report left little doubt that the retail industry is at a crossroads — major chains are closing stores, sales have wobbled and employers aren't hiring. Friday will be a huge day again this week. That's when the latest report on retail sales will come through, providing a gauge of where things really stand. If expectations are right, the news won't be good: a likely 0.4 percent drop month-to-month overall, or a meager 0.1 percent gain if you include auto sales. Speaking of auto sales, the big New York International Auto Show also starts Friday and runs until April 23. New models for Dodge, Toyota and Jeep are expected to be the big draws, but market watchers should monitor events there to get a feel for what future sales will be like.

Banks are in the money

If it's early April, then it's that time when we get to hear how much money companies made so far this year. For banks, the profits are expected to be considerable. In fact, the broad category of that Wall Street calls "financials" — banks, insurers, brokerages and the like — likely saw earnings growth of nearly 15 percent in the first quarter, according to FactSet. The sector is predicted to lead the way for an total profit gain of 9.1 percent.

Federal Reserve Board Chairwoman Janet Yellen Getty Images

So why should you care? Because companies like banks and materials are supposed to be the big beneficiaries of the "Trump trade." President Donald Trump's plans to juice the economy by cutting taxes, loosening regulations and spending big on public works projects feed into the sweet spot for banks. If profits are up, that's a good sign that the economic growth narrative is holding true. If they're lackluster, it could mean a more challenging year. Kickoff for bank earnings starts Thursday with JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo stepping up to the plate.

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