Economic Events and Corporate Reports: Saturday, 1 August 2026 — Berkshire Hathaway Report, OPEC+ Meeting, and South Korea Trade Statistics
Saturday, 1 August 2026, marks the beginning of a new month in the global financial markets. With stock exchanges in the USA, Europe, Asia, and the Moscow Exchange closed, this day is far from "empty" for investors. Key economic events and corporate reports over the weekend have the potential to set the trading direction from the opening on Monday: the market is anticipating the quarterly report from Berkshire Hathaway, a virtual OPEC+ meeting on oil production for September, and July trade statistics from South Korea — a traditional barometer of global trade. Additionally, in Russia, a package of regulatory changes will come into force from 1 August, including a recalculation of pensions for working retirees. We explore the key events of the day and weekend that are significant for the stock market and individual investors.
Why This Saturday is Important for Investors
The first of August falls at the juncture of two busy weeks. Behind us is the meeting of the US Federal Reserve (with the rate maintained at around 3.75%), a block of reports from American technology giants, and the publication of IFRS results from Nornickel for the first half of the year. Ahead lie the ISM and PMI business activity indices from China, reports from Russian issuers, and the July labour market report from the USA. The weekend of 1–2 August concentrates several catalysts:
- the publication of Berkshire Hathaway's quarterly report, traditionally released in the early days of August;
- an online meeting of seven key OPEC+ countries concerning quotas for September;
- data on South Korea's exports and imports for July — a leading indicator of global demand;
- the implementation of new regulations in Russia, affecting pensions, taxes, and housing and communal services.
Berkshire Hathaway: The Main Corporate Report of the Weekend
The central corporate event is the Berkshire Hathaway report for the second quarter of 2026. Warren Buffett and Greg Abel's holding company has historically published quarterly results on the first Saturday of August, and this year the market expects the release between 1–3 August. It is the only "heavyweight" in the S&P 500 index whose report is traditionally released on a non-trading day, providing investors with time to calmly analyse the figures before the market opens.
What Analysts Expect from the Report
- Revenue of approximately $95.3 billion — an increase of about 3% year-on-year.
- B-class earnings per share at $5.24 compared to $5.17 a year earlier.
- Trends in the insurance business: GEICO's margin remains under pressure due to rising payouts and customer acquisition costs, while the insurance float exceeds $176 billion.
- The size of cash reserves and share buyback activity — key signals regarding management's outlook on market valuation.
- The first results under Greg Abel’s leadership following Buffett’s departure as CEO and integration of the acquisition of Taylor Morrison Home for $8.5 billion.
Berkshire shares have lagged behind the broader market this year due to a shrinking "Buffett premium" and a low allocation to the technology sector, making the reaction to the report on Monday potentially more volatile.
OPEC+ Meeting on 2 August: Decision on Oil Production for September
On Sunday, 2 August, seven key OPEC+ producers — Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman — will hold a virtual meeting to determine quotas for September. The baseline scenario for the market is another increase in production of about 188,000 barrels per day, which will conclude the phased reversal of voluntary cuts of 1.65 million barrels that have been in place since 2023.
There are two significant points for the oil market:
- Possible Pause After September. A freeze on quotas from October 2026 to January 2027 is being discussed, which would maintain about 2 million barrels per day in restrictions and support Brent prices.
- Geopolitical Context. The gradual recovery of exports through the Strait of Hormuz following the conflict concerning Iran and the UAE's exit from OPEC render the actual effect of quota increases limited, as the actual production of several countries remains below permitted levels.
The outcomes of the meeting will directly impact the stocks in the oil and gas sector — from ExxonMobil and Shell to Rosneft and Lukoil — as well as the rouble and commodity currencies.
South Korea Trade Statistics: A Barometer of the Global Economy
On the morning of 1 August, the South Korean customs authority will traditionally publish export and import data for July — regardless of the holiday. Korean statistics are considered a leading indicator of global trade and semiconductor demand: the dynamics of chip supplies from Samsung and SK Hynix reflect the state of the global technology cycle and indirectly affect sentiments in the shares of Nvidia, TSMC, and the Nikkei 225 index as a whole. Amid the US tariff policy, investors will be looking for signs of a slowdown in Asian exports within the numbers.
Russia and the CIS: Changes Effective from 1 August 2026
For the Russian market, Saturday marks the enactment of approximately 90 federal regulations. The most significant changes for household economies include:
- automatic recalculation of insurance pensions for working retirees: the maximum increase is three pension points, approximately 470 roubles per month;
- indexation of funded pensions by 17.3%, with a 19.3% increase for participants in the co-financing programme;
- doubled fixed pension payment for citizens who turned 80 in July;
- the transfer of tax notifications for property taxes and personal income tax to an electronic format via "Gosuslugi";
- new requirements for the detailing of utility bills.
Additional support for disposable income is a moderately positive factor for the consumer sector of the Moscow Exchange, including retail and banks.
US Tariff Policy: The Climate for August
Trade agenda remains a key source of risk for global markets. In August, investors will monitor the implementation of 50% tariffs from the US on Canadian goods effective 19 August, as well as ongoing 25% tariffs on imports from Brazil. The escalation of trade restrictions increases uncertainty for Euro Stoxx 50 exporters and Asian manufacturers while also supporting inflation expectations in the US, limiting the Federal Reserve's scope for rate cuts.
Week in Review: Context Ahead of Monday's Opening
The past week concluded with the release of Nornickel's IFRS semi-annual report and operational results from MD Medical, alongside a block of corporate reports in the US. The S&P 500 index remains near historical highs with the Fed rate around 3.75% and inflation at about 3.5% — a combination that makes the market particularly sensitive to macro statistics at the beginning of August.
Upcoming Week’s Calendar: Key Events
- 3 August — the ISM index in the US manufacturing sector, China's PMI for industry (RatingDog, previously Caixin), half-year IFRS report from TGK-1.
- 5 August — Rostelecom's half-year IFRS report for 2026.
- 6 August — Unipro's IFRS results.
- 7 August — July labour market report from the USA (Non-Farm Payrolls), a key release for Fed rate expectations.
What Investors Should Focus On
Saturday, 1 August 2026, is a day for preparation rather than trades. Investors should concentrate on three areas. First, the Berkshire Hathaway report: the holding company's cash position and Greg Abel's comments will serve as indicators of "smart money’s" outlook on current market valuations. Secondly, the OPEC+ decision on 2 August: signals regarding a pause in production increases after September could support oil prices and shares within the commodity sector, while a continuation of aggressive quota increases would heighten pressure on Brent. Thirdly, the macro statistics at the month's beginning — from Korean exports to the US ISM and employment report — will determine the trajectory of Fed rate expectations. A balanced position ahead of Monday's opening, monitoring commodity asset allocations and staying alert to tariff news from Washington, remains the fundamental strategy as we begin August.
