The sense of ritual for the New Year begins with a Wallstreetcn Calendar~ Buy more, save more・Fantastic value! 1 copy: save 20｜2 copies: save 50｜3 copies: save 90. Perfect for gifts to friends and family or for personal collection. A look at the major financial events for the week of January 19th to January 25th (all times Beijing Time):
Global capital markets face a dual "test" from macro data and geopolitics this week, requiring close attention to marginal changes in the following three core narratives. First is the dual challenge of the true state of US inflation and Federal Reserve independence. The US core PCE price index released next Thursday is the week's focal point. Following claims that CPI data was "distorted," investment banks warn the PCE could show a "scissor gap" style rebound; if the data confirms sticky inflation, market expectations for rate cuts will face a correction. Simultaneously, the US Supreme Court will hear the case regarding former President Trump's dismissal of Fed Governor Lisa Cook, and combined with uncertainty over tariff rulings, the Fed's policy outlook is significantly disrupted. Second is the resonance of global political cycles. The Davos Forum opens, with former President Trump leading a delegation and delivering a speech. Against the backdrop of escalating situations in Venezuela and Iran, his geopolitical and trade stances will directly impact risk sentiment. In Asia, the Bank of Japan is expected to stand pat, but Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae may announce a snap election, subjecting the yen to political uncertainty. Finally, there is the Chinese economy and key earnings reports. China releases its Q4 GDP and "troika" data on Monday, with a State Council Information Office press conference set to define the annual economic trajectory. As the US earnings season deepens, results from Intel and Netflix will test the tech hardware recovery and streaming growth narratives, respectively. Economic Indicators
The "Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge," the November PCE index.
On Thursday, January 22nd, the "Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge," the November PCE index, will be released. Following suggestions that the December CPI data might be distorted, this figure becomes crucial for verifying the true trend of US inflation. Morgan Stanley has warned it could rebound significantly to 0.46%. If the data comes in stronger than expected, it will directly challenge market expectations for Fed rate cuts. Additionally, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that US personal income and outlays data for October and November 2025 will be released at 10:00 AM ET on January 22nd (11:00 PM Beijing Time). Meanwhile, the preliminary Q4 and full-year 2025 GDP figures will be released at 8:30 AM ET on February 20th (9:30 PM Beijing Time). The personal income and outlays report for December 2025 will also be released at 8:30 AM ET on February 20th.
China's GDP, Industrial Output, Retail Sales, 70-City Home Prices, and other key economic data.
On Monday, January 19th, key Chinese economic data for Q4 is released, including GDP, industrial output above designated size, total retail sales, 70-city new home prices, fixed-asset investment, and the unemployment rate. On the same day, the State Council Information Office will hold a press conference on the national economic performance. Zheshang Securities forecasts Q4 GDP growth at 4.6% year-on-year, indicating an economic landscape characterized by relatively strong industrial production but a more moderate recovery in consumer demand. CICC also expects Q4 GDP growth at 4.6% year-on-year, with full-year GDP growth projected at 5.0%.
The Bank of Japan announces its interest rate decision and Economic Outlook Report.
On Friday, January 23rd, the Bank of Japan will announce its interest rate decision. The market widely expects the bank to keep its benchmark rate unchanged at 0.75%, standing pat after the December rate hike. Although pre-meeting inflation data for December might show some easing price pressures, core CPI is still expected to remain elevated. Given domestic political uncertainty, Governor Ueda's post-meeting remarks are anticipated to be cautious. Financial Events
Continued focus on geopolitical risks and US developments (Events throughout the week).
From Venezuela and Greenland to the Middle East and Iran, geopolitical maneuvering has intensified significantly recently. A series of unconventional, aggressive moves by the US government are reshaping global risk sentiment. Currently, geopolitical risk is becoming the biggest "X-factor" impacting capital markets.
US Treasury Secretary Besant: Fed Chair announcement possible around Davos (Events throughout the week).
On January 9th, former President Trump confirmed he had finalized his choice for Fed Chair but had not formally announced it. When asked if Hassett was the nominee, Trump said, "I don't want to say," adding that Hassett "is certainly one of the people I like." On the same day, US Treasury Secretary Besant stated that Trump plans to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19th to 23rd, and the timing for finalizing the Fed Chair successor might be around that period.
World Economic Forum – Winter Davos (January 19-23).
From January 19th to 23rd (Monday to Friday), the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will be held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. Under the theme "The Spirit of Dialogue," the meeting is expected to attract over 60 heads of state and thousands of leaders from various sectors. Former US President Trump will lead the largest US delegation ever to attend and is scheduled to speak on the 21st, with his economic and geopolitical agenda drawing global attention. Concurrently, the forum will feature an unusually high density of tech leaders present, including NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, and key figures from OpenAI and Mistral AI, making AI governance, development, and global impact a core topic.
US Supreme Court sets January 20th as next opinion day, may rule on Trump tariff case.
The US Supreme Court has set Tuesday as the next date for releasing opinions. If the ruling on the tariff case is not announced next week, it will likely be at least another month before a decision. Justices typically only take the bench to issue opinions on cases they have already heard, and Wednesday will be the last conference before the next sitting, after which the Court will recess until February 20th. Trump said on Friday it would be a "disgrace" for America if he loses the Supreme Court case.
Japanese Prime Minister decides to dissolve Lower House on January 23rd, call snap election.
According to CCTV International reports, on January 14th, LDP President and Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae held talks with LDP Secretary-General Suzuki Junichi, Nippon Ishin no Kai representative Yoshiyama Yobun, and others, formally conveying the intention to dissolve the House of Representatives. According to prior Japanese media reports, Takaichi Sanae had decided to dissolve the House of Representatives on the January 23rd opening day of the Diet and call a snap election. If the House is dissolved on January 23rd, there are two possible election schedule scenarios: one involves an official announcement on January 27th with voting and vote counting on February 8th; the other involves an announcement on February 3rd with voting on February 15th.
Verdict expected January 21st in case of former Japanese PM Abe's assassination.
According to CCTV News reports from last November, based on the schedule, the trial for the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was set for 19 sessions, concluding on December 18th, with a verdict expected on January 21st of the following year. On July 8, 2022, Abe was shot while giving a campaign speech for an LDP candidate in Nara City. After several hours of emergency treatment, he was pronounced dead at the age of 67. Tetsuya Yamagami was arrested at the scene.
US Supreme Court to hold hearing on case of Trump firing Fed Governor Lisa Cook.
On Wednesday, January 21st, the US Supreme Court will hold a hearing on the case regarding former President Trump's dismissal of Fed Governor Lisa Cook. The ruling will set a key precedent establishing whether the President can bypass legal protections to remove Fed officials "for cause," seen as a bellwether for the battle over Fed independence. Bank of America economist Aditya Bhave stated plainly in a report: "A ruling against Cook would significantly raise the odds of Powell being removed due to the DOJ investigation. We have consistently argued that the Cook case matters more for the policy trajectory than the identity of the next Fed chair."
TikTok US joint venture expected to be established around January 22nd.
On December 18th local time, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew sent an internal letter updating progress on TikTok's US operations. The letter stated that ByteDance and TikTok had signed agreements with three investors and would establish a new TikTok US joint venture. The new joint venture, named TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, will be responsible for US data protection, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurance. Other TikTok entities in the US, wholly-owned by ByteDance, will continue to handle commercial activities like e-commerce, advertising, and market operations, as well as the global interoperability of the TikTok product. It is understood that matters related to the agreement are scheduled to be completed no later than January 22, 2026.
China's Ministry of Commerce: National Online New Year Shopping Festival to run from Jan 19 to Mar 4.
At a press conference on the afternoon of January 15th, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce announced that from January 19th to March 4th, the Ministry, together with relevant units, will guide the hosting of the 2026 National Online New Year Shopping Festival. Centered around four themes—promoting traditional culture, enriching quality supply, refreshing consumption scenarios, and connecting domestic and international markets—the festival will organize various popular special activities across regions and platforms to further stimulate consumption potential.
Honor to co-brand with Pop Mart, releasing industry's first潮玩phone.
Wallstreetcn has learned that Honor has confirmed its数字500 series will partner with Pop Mart for an IP co-branding collaboration. Positioning the new phone as the industry's first潮玩phone, it is set to be launched on January 19th.
3rd Beijing Commercial Aerospace Industry High-Quality Development Conference, 2026 Alibaba Cloud PolarDB Developer Conference.
The 3rd Beijing Commercial Aerospace Industry High-Quality Development Conference and the 2026 Beijing International Commercial Aerospace Exhibition will be held at the Beijing北人亦创International Convention and Exhibition Center from January 23rd to 25th. Additionally, the 2026 Alibaba Cloud PolarDB Developer Conference will be held on January 20th.
Long March 12 rocket launch expected (Not yet confirmed).
According to non-official research, the Long March 12 rocket is expected to launch between 15:30 and 16:30 on January 19th, executing a satellite internet low-orbit constellation networking mission.
US Market Holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day).
US markets are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. CME Group's US Treasury futures trading is closed. Precious metal and US crude oil futures contracts will close early at 03:30 Beijing Time on the 20th, and stock index futures contracts will close early at 02:00 Beijing Time on the 20th.
Eurozone finance ministers meet in Brussels.
Eurozone finance ministers meet in Brussels to nominate the next candidate for European Central Bank Vice President, a key step in the succession process as the term of incumbent Vice President Luis de Guindos ends in May.
Fed enters blackout period ahead of month-end policy meeting.
The Federal Reserve's external communication blackout period begins ahead of the January 27-28 policy meeting.
US President Trump calls for 10% cap on credit card rates from Jan 20, 2026, for one year.
US President Trump has called for a cap on credit card interest rates at 10%, effective from January 20, 2026, for one year, aiming to protect consumers from "extortion." However, the plan lacks implementation details and faces legal hurdles. Prominent investor Bill Ackman warned the move is a "mistake" that could lead banks to cancel credit card services, forcing consumers toward loan sharks. Earnings and Corporate Developments
Earnings reports from Intel, Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and others.
Companies reporting earnings next week include: Intel, Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, 3M, Abbott Laboratories, Capital One Financial, Charles Schwab, Citizens Financial Group, CSX, Disco, D.R. Horton, EQT, Fastenal, Fifth Third Bancorp, First Citizens BancShares, Freeport-McMoRan, General Electric, Halliburton, HDFC Bank, Huntington Bancshares, ICICI Bank, Interactive Brokers Group, Intuitive Surgical, Investor AB, JSW Steel, Northern Trust, Prologis, Samsung Biologics, SLB, TE Connectivity, Ericsson, The Travelers Companies, Truist Financial, United Airlines, and U.S. Bancorp.
Walmart to be added to Nasdaq-100 Index.
Walmart will be added to the Nasdaq-100 Index, the Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index, and the Nasdaq-100 Ex-Tech Sector Index prior to the market open on January 20th. Walmart will replace AstraZeneca, which will be removed from the indices on January 20th.
Longqi Technology applies for Hong Kong IPO, shares expected to start trading Jan 22.
Longqi Technology has applied for a Hong Kong IPO. The company seeks to issue approximately 52 million shares, with a price guide top end of HK$31 per share. Bloomberg calculations suggest the company aims to raise up to HK$1.6 billion (approximately US$205 million). Shares are expected to begin trading on January 22nd.
Hong Kong Exchange to launch six new stock option classes, covering Zijin Mining International,老铺黄金, Horizon Robotics, etc.
The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited previously announced it will launch six new stock option classes on Monday, January 19, 2026, further expanding the stock options market and providing investors with richer choices. The average daily turnover of HKEX's derivatives market last year was 1,662,751 contracts, a 7% year-on-year increase, hitting a record high. Among these, stock options (including monthly and weekly expiry contracts) were one of the most actively traded products, with last year's average daily volume also reaching a record high of 879,831 contracts, a 22% year-on-year increase.
"22 China Vanke Co.,Ltd. MTN005" bondholders meeting scheduled for January 21st.
Bank of Communications issued an announcement stating that, as the convener, it intends to hold the 2026 first bondholders meeting for China Vanke Co.,Ltd.'s 2022 Fifth Medium-Term Notes ("22 China Vanke Co.,Ltd. MTN005") to deliberate on matters related to the extension of these notes. The bonds involved, "22 China Vanke Co.,Ltd. MTN005," originally had a principal repayment date of December 28, 2025, with a current outstanding balance of 3.7 billion yuan and an interest rate of 3% for the current accrual period.
Comments