This report outlines the key global financial events for the week of January 26 to February 1, 2026. The primary focus for markets this week is the first Federal Reserve meeting of the year and a massive wave of “Magnificent 7” technology earnings.

Monday, January 26

• Economic: * Japan: Leading Economic Indicators (Nov) – Final reading.
  • Global: Asian Financial Forum begins in Hong Kong, focusing on trade tensions and AI integration.
• Stock Market: * Earnings: Steel Dynamics (STLD), Bank of Hawaii (BOH), and Seagate Technology (STX).
• Crypto: * ITC London 2026: Major fintech and digital asset summit begins in London.
  • Market Sentiment: Continued assessment of the BitGo IPO (which launched Jan 22) as a barometer for institutional appetite in 2026.

Tuesday, January 27

• Economic: * USA: S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index (Nov); Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index (Jan).
  • Central Bank: The U.S. Federal Reserve (FOMC) begins its two-day policy meeting.
• Stock Market: * Earnings: Tesla (TSLA) – High-impact report for the EV and AI sectors. Also reporting: General Motors (GM), Verizon (VZ), and Visa (V).

Wednesday, January 28

• Economic: * USA:FOMC Interest Rate Decision. Markets widely expect rates to remain steady at $3.50\% \text{–} 3.75\%$, but focus is on Chair Powell’s press conference regarding 2026’s rate cut path.
  • Canada: Bank of Canada (BoC) Interest Rate Decision; a potential pause or a small cut is being debated.
  • Australia: Q4 Consumer Price Index (CPI) – Crucial for determining if the RBA will hike rates in February.
• Stock Market: * Earnings:Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta Platforms (META). These will be critical for the “AI trade” narrative.
  • Others: Boeing (BA), AT&T (T), and Starbucks (SBUX).
• Crypto: * WallStreetBets Live (Miami): A three-day event starting today, often featuring high-volatility discussions on “meme” coins and retail trading trends.

Thursday, January 29

• Economic: * USA: Dec Trade Balance; Personal Income & Spending (PCE) – The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge.
  • Japan: Unemployment Rate and Industrial Production (Dec).
• Stock Market: * Earnings:Apple (AAPL) – The week’s most anticipated report.
  • Others: Mastercard (MA), Amazon (AMZN – expected), and Merck (MRK).

Friday, January 30

• Economic: * Eurozone: Q4 GDP Growth (Preliminary) and Unemployment Rate (Dec).
  • USA: Producer Price Index (PPI) – Wholesale inflation data.
  • Canada: Monthly GDP (Nov).
• Stock Market: * Earnings: Energy giants ExxonMobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX).
• Crypto: * Regulatory Watch: Monthly close for Bitcoin; historical volatility often increases as options contracts expire on the last Friday of the month.

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📈 Summary of Key Themes

Category	Key Catalyst	Market Expectation
Monetary Policy	Fed & BoC Decisions	Fed to hold steady; BoC is a “wildcard” (leaning toward hold).
Equities	Mag 7 Earnings	Focus on AI monetization and datacenter capital expenditure (CapEx).
Inflation	US PCE & AU CPI	Markets looking for confirmation that global inflation remains in the $2\% \text{–} 3\%$ range.
Crypto	WallStreetBets / IPOs	Retail sentiment in Miami and the success of the BitGo IPO spillover.