Economic Events and Corporate Reports for Saturday, 3 January 2026. A Review of Global Macroeconomics, the State of the Stock Markets in the USA, Europe, Asia, and Russia, Key Indicators for Investors.
Saturday, 3 January 2026, is expected to be an extraordinarily quiet day in the global financial markets. The New Year celebrations continue, and on this weekend day, nearly all major exchanges remain closed. There are no significant economic publications scheduled, leaving investors without new guiding information. The corporate sector is also quiet – major company reports will only be released later, closer to mid-January. Nevertheless, market participants remain on alert: any unexpected news, particularly from the upcoming OPEC+ meeting, could influence sentiments ahead of the trading week opening.
Macroeconomic Calendar (MSK)
- Australia: S&P Global Services PMI for December, as well as the composite PMI index, is expected to be published throughout the day.
- No other important macroeconomic data are being released today: most countries do not publish statistics due to the weekend. The first wave of economic indicators for the new year will begin next week in the USA, Europe, and Asia.
Trading Sessions and New Year Holidays
- Exchanges Closed: all major global trading platforms are inactive this Saturday, as it is a common day off for global financial markets.
- Continued Holidays: many stock markets (including the USA and Europe) have completed their shortened holiday week and will resume full trading only on Monday, 5 January.
- Russian Markets: the Moscow Exchange (MOEX) continues its New Year holidays (trading is suspended until next week), and the Saint Petersburg Exchange is also closed on 3 January due to the public holiday.
- Middle East: exchanges in several Gulf countries traditionally do not trade on Saturdays and will open tomorrow, 4 January, marking the start of their first trading session of the new year.
Global Markets and Indices
- USA (S&P 500): American markets are closed for the weekend. After the first trading day of the new year, investors in the USA are evaluating the prospects for the start of 2026; attention is shifting to upcoming macroeconomic events – including the publication of the ISM Business Activity Index early in the week and the key Non-Farm Payroll report on 9 January. Additionally, the market is waiting for signals ahead of the new corporate earnings season.
- Europe (Euro Stoxx 50): European exchanges are also inactive over the weekend; key indices in the region experienced the holiday period without significant changes. European investors are focused on the opening of trading on 5 January and upcoming EU economic data (inflation, business activity), as well as external factors such as oil price dynamics and the euro/dollar exchange rate.
- Asia (Nikkei 225): The main markets in the Asia-Pacific region are on pause due to the holidays. In Japan, the New Year celebrations are concluding (trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange will resume next week), while Chinese and several other Asian exchanges are also closed. Meanwhile, regional investors are monitoring external factors and preparing for the resumption of trading on Monday.
- Russia (MOEX, RTS): Trading on Russian platforms is suspended due to continuing New Year holidays. The rouble and MOEX indices remain stable amid low activity, but as the market returns from the holidays, they will begin to react to external drivers – primarily fluctuations in oil prices and geopolitical factors. It is expected that significant activity on MOEX will resume in the second week of January.
Corporate Reports
- Company Reports: Due to the public holiday, there are no announcements of financial results from major companies today. Most issuers in the S&P 500, Euro Stoxx 50, and Nikkei 225 will report for the fourth quarter only in the second half of January, when the main quarterly reporting season kicks off.
- US Market: The first reports from American corporations typically begin to appear in mid-January, starting with leading banks and technology giants. Investors are anticipating initial signals about the financial outcomes for 2025 and forecasts for 2026 from these results.
- Europe and Asia: Similarly, major European and Asian companies will present their quarterly results closer to the end of January or in February. This week, attention in these regions is primarily focused on the macroeconomic environment and forecasts rather than corporate reports.
- Dividends and Announcements: The start of the year sometimes brings news of dividends or strategic plans from individual companies. However, during the New Year celebrations, there are few such corporate updates. Investors should monitor company press releases in the coming days – key dividend dates and plans for the year may be announced soon after the holidays.
Day's Summary: What Investors Should Pay Attention To
- Low Liquidity and Volatility: Holiday weekends are accompanied by reduced trading volumes; with limited activity, even isolated news can provoke disproportionately sharp market fluctuations. It is crucial for investors to act cautiously: controlling risks and avoiding large transactions until normal liquidity is restored.
- OPEC+ and Oil Prices: On Sunday, 4 January, a meeting of OPEC+ member countries will take place, after which it will be clear whether oil production quotas will remain unchanged. Any unexpected decision could result in significant movements in oil prices at the beginning of the year. Accordingly, the energy sector and the currencies of commodity-exporting countries (including the Russian rouble) are expected to react on Monday to the outcomes of this meeting.
- Start of Earnings Season: Although there are no major corporate releases today, the earnings season will commence in a couple of weeks, with major banks, IT companies, and industrial corporations starting to publish their fourth-quarter results. Expectations and preliminary assessments of these reports will gradually be priced into stock prices – investors should take into account potential surprises in corporate earnings in advance.
- Macroeconomic Background and Policy: The absence of important statistics over the weekend means that the first trading days of the new year will be especially reliant on news background. Early in the week, the markets will receive a batch of data (such as service sector business activity indices in various countries) and may see the publication of minutes from recent central bank meetings. Additionally, any statements from politicians or sudden geopolitical events could influence investor sentiments. In these conditions, conservative strategies remain relevant – asset diversification and a measured approach to risk will help protect portfolios in case of unexpected volatility.
This review presents key indicators for investors on 3 January 2026. In conditions of minimal market activity, it is essential to remain vigilant: closely monitor news over the weekend, track the dynamics of key indices upon market openings, and stay tuned for upcoming economic publications to make informed investment decisions.
