Economic Events and Corporate Reports for Saturday, January 3, 2026. Overview of Global Macroeconomics, State of Stock Markets in the US, Europe, Asia, and Russia, Key Benchmarks for Investors.
Saturday, January 3, 2026, is expected to be an exceptionally quiet day on global financial markets. The New Year celebrations continue, and on this holiday, almost all major exchanges remain closed. Significant economic publications are not scheduled, depriving investors of new benchmarks. The corporate sector is also experiencing a lull, with major company reports expected only later in mid-January. Nonetheless, market participants remain vigilant: any unexpected news, particularly from the upcoming OPEC+ meeting, could influence sentiment ahead of the week’s trading resumption.
Macroeconomic Calendar (MSK)
- Australia: S&P Global Services PMI for December, along with the composite PMI index – publication expected throughout the day.
- No other important macroeconomic data is being released today: most countries are not publishing statistics due to the holiday. The first wave of economic indicators in the new year will begin next week in the US, Europe, and Asia.
Trading Sessions and New Year Breaks
- Exchanges Closed: all major global platforms are not operating this Saturday, as this day is a common holiday for global financial markets.
- Continuation of Holidays: many stock markets (including the US and Europe) have completed a shortened holiday week and will resume full trading only on Monday, January 5.
- Russian Markets: The Moscow Exchange (MOEX) continues its New Year break (trading suspended until next week), and the St. Petersburg Exchange also remains closed on January 3 due to the holiday.
- Middle East: Exchanges in several Gulf countries traditionally do not trade on Saturdays and will open tomorrow, January 4, starting their first trading session of the new year.
Global Markets and Indices
- US (S&P 500): US markets are closed for the holiday. After the first trading day of the new year, investors in the US are assessing the prospects for the start of 2026; focus is shifting to upcoming macroeconomic events, including the publication of the ISM Business Activity Index early next week and the key employment report (Non-Farm Payrolls) on January 9. Furthermore, the market is awaiting signals ahead of the new corporate earnings season.
- Europe (Euro Stoxx 50): European exchanges are also inactive on weekends; key indices in the region have gone through the holiday period without significant changes. European investors are focused on the reopening of trading on January 5 and upcoming data on the EU's economy (inflation, business activity), along with external factors such as oil price dynamics and the euro/dollar exchange rate.
- Asia (Nikkei 225): Major markets in the Asia-Pacific region are on pause for the holiday. Japan is concluding its New Year celebrations (trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange will resume next week), and several other Asian exchanges are also closed. Regional investors are monitoring external conditions and preparing for the resumption of trading on Monday.
- Russia (MOEX, RTS): No trading is conducted on Russian platforms due to the ongoing New Year holidays. The ruble and MOEX indices remain stable amid low activity, but as the market returns from the holidays, they will begin to react once again to external drivers, primarily fluctuations in oil prices and geopolitical factors. It is expected that primary activity on the MOEX will recover in the second week of January.
Corporate Reports
- Company Reports: Due to the holiday, no financial results of major companies are being published today. Most issuers from 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 earnings season begins.
- US Market: Initial reports from American corporations will traditionally surface in mid-January, starting with leading banks and tech giants. Investors expect these results to provide the first signals about the financial outcomes of 2025 and forecasts for 2026.
- 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 likely more on the macroeconomic situation and forecasts rather than corporate reports.
- Dividends and Announcements: The start of the year sometimes brings news of dividends or strategic plans from certain companies. However, during the New Year holidays, such corporate news is scarce. Investors should monitor press releases from companies in the coming days as key dividend dates and plans for the year may be announced shortly after the holidays.
End-of-Day Summary: What Investors Should Pay Attention To
- Low Liquidity and Volatility: Holiday weekends are accompanied by reduced trading volumes; with limited activity, even single news items can provoke disproportionately sharp market fluctuations. It is crucial for investors to act cautiously: manage risks and avoid making large transactions until normal liquidity is restored.
- OPEC+ and Oil Prices: On Sunday, January 4, a meeting of the OPEC+ alliance will take place, the outcomes of which will clarify whether oil production quotas will remain unchanged. Any unexpected decision could trigger noticeable movements in oil prices at the beginning of the year. Accordingly, the energy sector and currencies of commodity-exporting countries (including the Russian ruble) will react to the results of this meeting on Monday.
- Beginning of Earnings Season: Although there are no major corporate announcements today, in just a couple of weeks, the earnings season will kick off, when major banks, IT companies, and industrial corporations will start reporting their fourth-quarter results. Expectations and preliminary assessments of these reports will gradually be priced into stock prices – investors should be prepared for potential surprises in corporate earnings.
- Macroeconomic Background and Policy: The absence of important statistics during the holidays means that the first trading days of the new year will be particularly dependent on news flow. At the beginning of the week, markets can expect a set of data (such as service sector activity indices across various countries) and possibly the publication of minutes from recent central bank meetings. Additionally, any statements from politicians or sudden geopolitical events could impact investor sentiment. In these conditions, conservative strategies remain relevant – diversifying assets and a measured approach to risk will help safeguard portfolios in the event of unexpected volatility.
This review provides key benchmarks for investors on January 3, 2026. In conditions of minimal market activity, it is important to remain vigilant: closely monitor news during the weekend, the dynamics of major indices upon the opening of exchanges, and upcoming economic publications in order to make informed investment decisions.
