Investors face a busy week starting with Berkshire Hathaway's second-quarter results on Saturday, followed by key inflation readings and earnings from Applied Materials. Analysts estimate Berkshire may have repurchased up to $6 billion of its own stock during the quarter, while its cash pile remains in focus. The July Consumer Price Index is due Wednesday, with economists forecasting month-over-month increases in both headline and core CPI. Applied Materials reports Thursday, with expectations that the chip-equipment giant will benefit from AI-driven demand for high-bandwidth memory tools. The July Producer Price Index also arrives Thursday, with headline and core PPI expected to rise from June.
