Key Economic Events and Corporate Reports on Sunday, 18 January 2026. China's GDP, Asian Macroeconomic Statistics, and Global Sentiment for Investors in the World Markets.
On Sunday, 18 January 2026, global financial markets are expected to witness a relatively quiet day. The major exchanges in the US and Europe are closed for the weekend (with a long weekend in the US in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day), resulting in a lack of new macroeconomic statistics and corporate reports from these regions. However, investors are focusing on significant releases from Asia and a range of reports from large companies in emerging markets, which could provide insights into industry conditions and set the tone for the trading session at the start of the new week. Investor sentiments in CIS countries and worldwide remain cautious, with key global indices (S&P 500, Euro Stoxx 50, Nikkei 225, and the Moscow Exchange Index (MOEX)) finishing the past week with little change, concentrating on forthcoming signals for their strategies.
USA (S&P 500 Index)
- The American markets will be closed on 18 January, with no new economic releases or corporate reports from S&P 500 companies scheduled for this Sunday. Investors are still processing data from the past week: December's Producer Price Index (PPI) in the US has slowed, confirming the trend towards easing price pressure, while industrial production slightly exceeded forecasts, indicating some stabilisation in the manufacturing sector. The lack of news on the weekend and an upcoming holiday means that attention is shifting to the events of the new week, with discussions likely focusing on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy outlook following the recent rate-cutting cycle and the continuation of the corporate earnings season in the US.
Europe (Euro Stoxx 50 Index)
- In the European region, Sunday also brings no significant events: markets remain in a pause, and no financial reports from companies within the Euro Stoxx 50 will be published on this day. European investors are using this lull to prepare for the upcoming statistical reports at the beginning of the week. On Monday, the final estimate of inflation for the Eurozone in December will be released, which, according to preliminary data, has decreased to just over 2% year-on-year—heightening expectations that the European Central Bank will refrain from tightening policies at the next meeting. Furthermore, the World Economic Forum in Davos (19–23 January) will kick off on Monday, where global leaders and corporate heads will discuss economic risks and prospects worldwide—statements from this forum could shape the informational backdrop for European markets in the coming week.
China: GDP for Q4 2025 and December Statistics
- In China, key macroeconomic indicators are scheduled for release on the morning of Monday, which market participants will be evaluating on Sunday. Firstly, China’s GDP growth for Q4 2025 will be published—an increase of approximately +4.8% year-on-year is anticipated, comparable to the dynamics of the previous quarter. This figure will indicate whether the world's second-largest economy has managed to sustain expansion rates against a backdrop of declining exports and limited stimuli. Secondly, data on industrial production and retail sales for December will be released simultaneously. Forecasts suggest that factory output in China continued its robust growth (around +4–5% year-on-year), while consumer spending remains restrained (retail sales predicted to rise by only ~1% year-on-year). The outcomes of Chinese statistics will set the tone for Asian markets and commodity prices: stronger figures may bolster risk appetite and support prices for oil and metals, while weak reports could amplify concerns regarding global economic slowdown.
Japan: Machinery Orders
- In Japan, statistics on machinery orders for November 2025 will be released in the night of 19 January (Monday). The previous month saw a notable decline in this indicator (-4% month-on-month in October), reflecting business caution regarding capital expenditure. Expected data for November may indicate a recovery in orders—preliminary estimates suggest a growth of around +7% month-on-month, signalling a return of companies to investment. Although Japanese markets are closed on Sunday, the publication of this figure before the Tokyo trading opens could influence the Nikkei 225 index and the yen's exchange rate: improved statistics might bolster investor confidence in Japan's economic stability and support demand for industrial sector stocks.
South Korea: Producer Price Index
- The Bank of Korea will present data on the Producer Price Index (PPI) for December. It is anticipated that manufacturing inflation in South Korea has remained at a moderate level: PPI growth in December is estimated at around +2% year-on-year, registering only a slight acceleration from 1.7% in November. Moderate PPI growth rates signal restrained price pressure in supply chains and could indicate the stabilisation of inflationary trends in the region. Although the South Korean PPI rarely has a significant impact on global markets, its dynamics serve as a leading indicator for consumer inflation and the state of the industrial sector in one of Asia's largest economies.
India: Major Quarterly Corporate Reports
- In India, the active corporate earnings season continues on this day, with several major public companies releasing their financial results for October–December 2025 (the third quarter of fiscal year 2026). Among these are Hindustan Zinc (mining sector), Punjab National Bank (one of the largest state-owned banks), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (engineering and power equipment), and Havells India (consumer electronics). Investors are attentively examining these reports to assess the health of key sectors in the Indian economy: for instance, results from PNB will indicate trends in lending and asset quality within the banking system, while Hindustan Zinc's figures will reflect the impact of metal prices on the profits of resource companies. The local market's reaction (BSE Sensex and Nifty 50) to these reports will be evident on Monday and set the tone for other emerging markets.
Middle East and Other Markets: Reports from Qatar Islamic Bank, Almarai, Nanya, and Virbac
- Among other notable corporate events on Sunday, results will be released from Qatar Islamic Bank (the largest Islamic bank in Qatar) and Saudi company Almarai (a leading dairy producer in the region) for Q4 2025. These reports will highlight the state of the financial sector in the Gulf and consumer demand in the Middle East against a backdrop of stable oil prices. In Asia, quarterly results from Taiwan's Nanya Technology— a major producer of memory chips—will serve as an indicator for the tech sector: investors await signals of recovering demand for chips following a period of decline. In Europe, it is worth mentioning the report from the French pharmaceutical company Virbac, which will disclose fourth-quarter revenue data. Although the impact of the Virbac report is localised, the aggregate corporate news from various regions provides a broad perspective on the state of global business at the beginning of the year.
Russia (MOEX Index)
- For the Russian market, 18 January is a public holiday: trading on the Moscow Exchange is not conducted, and financial reports from the largest companies (included in the MOEX index) are not published on this date. However, it remains essential for Russian investors to monitor the external backdrop developing over Sunday. Most importantly, results from Chinese statistics and corporate news from Asia will serve as benchmarks: a strengthening Chinese economy could support oil and metal prices, which is positive for the shares of resource companies and the ruble. Oil prices are hovering around $62–64 per barrel of Brent, and their relative stability over the weekend provides a breather for the RF market. Nonetheless, any unexpected announcements at the global level or changes in the geopolitical situation could influence investor sentiment by the time trading opens in Moscow on Monday.
Overall, this current Sunday is rather low on events, but specific Asian releases and reports create an important informational backdrop for global investors. Particular attention should be paid to the publication of China's GDP—its results will help assess the growth trajectory of the world’s second-largest economy and the mood in commodity markets. Additionally, the commencement of the World Economic Forum will be in focus: from tomorrow onwards, statements from world leaders in Davos could set the tone for regional markets. Any unexpectedly strong (or weak) data could adjust expectations regarding the future actions of central banks and influence risk appetite. At the start of the new week, a combination of macroeconomic indicators and corporate reports will determine the dynamics of key indices and investor sentiment across the CIS and worldwide.
