Monday, February 16

• Economic: Markets in the US (Presidents’ Day), Canada (Family Day), and Mainland China (Lunar New Year) are closed, leading to thin liquidity and a quiet start.
• Stock Market: Japan released Q4 Preliminary GDP showing a clear rebound. In Australia, earnings season continues with ~80 companies reporting this week.
• Crypto: Significant token unlocks for Arbitrum (ARB) (1.82% of supply). ETHDenver 2026 kicks off, serving as a major hub for Ethereum ecosystem updates.

Tuesday, February 17

• Economic: Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Meeting Minutes released, signaling a hawkish tone on inflation. Germany releases CPI data, and the UK reports labor market statistics.
• Stock Market: Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) remains closed for Lunar New Year. Investors watch German ZEW sentiment for signs of Eurozone recovery.
• Crypto: ETHDenver continues with a focus on Layer 2 scaling and decentralized governance.

Wednesday, February 18

• Economic: Key Event: Release of the FOMC Meeting Minutes (14:00 ET). Markets will scrutinize these for clues on whether the Fed will resume rate cuts in June. New Zealand (RBNZ) holds its interest rate steady at 2.25%.
• Stock Market: Walmart (WMT) and Palo Alto Networks are among the high-profile earnings reports. US Industrial Production (Jan) data is released.
• Crypto: Market volatility is expected to peak around the FOMC minutes. Hong Kong Blockchain Conference begins.

Thursday, February 19

• Economic: US Durable Goods Orders and Weekly Initial Jobless Claims. In Australia, labor market data (employment change) is released.
• Stock Market: Earnings focus shifts to Booking Holdings, Airbus, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
• Crypto: WMT Financial Report is watched by the crypto community for insights into digital payment adoption and retail sentiment.

Friday, February 20

• Economic: “The Final Boss”: US releases Q4 GDP (Preliminary) and Core PCE Price Index (the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge). A US Supreme Court ruling on Trump-era tariff policies is also expected today, which could impact global trade sentiment.
• Stock Market: People’s Bank of China (PBOC) interest rate decision. Flash PMIs for the Eurozone, UK, and US will provide a real-time health check on global manufacturing.
• Crypto: ZRO (LayerZero) unlock worth $46 million. Potential for significant “Black Swan” volatility if PCE inflation exceeds forecasts.

---

Summary Table: High-Impact Catalysts

Sector	Primary Focus	Sentiment/Impact
Global Economy	US PCE & GDP	High; will determine if the “disinflation” narrative is still intact.
Stock Market	Retail Earnings	Moderate; Walmart results will signal consumer strength amid high rates.
Crypto	ETHDenver & Unlocks	High; ecosystem growth vs. sell pressure from ARB and ZRO unlocks.

---

Key Risks to Watch

1. Inflation “Stickiness”: If Friday’s PCE data comes in hot, expectations for 2026 rate cuts will be aggressively pushed back, likely hurting both tech stocks and crypto.
2. Geopolitical/Legal: The Supreme Court ruling on tariffs (Friday) could spark a sell-off in trade-sensitive sectors (Logistics, Manufacturing).
3. Liquidity Gaps: With China out for the week, Asian market moves may be more erratic than usual.