Economic Calendar: 10 key events you should keep track of
At a glance:
• The economic calendar is a tool that brings together all the macroeconomic and corporate events that could influence your investment decisions.
• If you keep track of these events in advance, you can anticipate volatility spikes and adjust your share portfolio exposure accordingly.
• At Banco Carregosa, you’ll find an ideal ecosystem combining execution technology and expert analysis to help you make well-informed strategic decisions based on calendar data.
A single piece of economic data, a central bank decision or a political leader’s statement can change expectations and trigger significant market movements. This is why keeping track of the economic calendar is so important.
But which moments should you really be focusing on? What information is released? What’s the best way to keep track of it all? Read on to find out about some of the most relevant events that investors and analysts regularly monitor.
Understanding how the markets work is helpful for following the economic calendar more confidently. Our article "Financial markets: what they are, their types, risks, and how to invest in them” provides a comprehensive overview.
Quick guide: the 10 key events on the economic calendar
To provide an immediate visual overview, we have organised the events according to their average historical impact on the equity and bond markets:
| Calendar Event | Market Impact | What You Should Monitor | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Corporate Results | Very High | Revenue, Profits and Management Guidance. | Quarterly / Half-yearly |
| 2. Key Interest Rates | Very High | Decisions and statements from the Fed, the ECB and the BoE. | Scheduled meetings |
| 3. Inflation Data (CPI/PCE) | Very High | CPI and PCE (the Fed’s preferred measure). | Monthly |
| 4. Employment Reports | High | Job creation (e.g. Non-Farm Payrolls) and wages. | Monthly |
| 5. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | High | Growth rate and revisions to economic activity. | Quarterly |
| 6. PMI Indices | High | Indicators of industrial and service activity. | Monthly |
| 7. Confidence Indicators | Medium | Consumer and business sentiment. | Monthly / Regular |
| 8. Oil sector data | Medium | Weekly inventories, production figures and OPEC statements. | Weekly / Monthly |
| 9. Government Budgets | Medium | Tax changes, public spending and taxes. | Annual |
| 10. Public Debt Auctions | Medium | Yields and demand ratio. | Depending on the sovereign calendar |
Key events on the economic calendar
These are some of the most important events on the economic calendar, ranging from corporate earnings announcements to the publication of the State Budget and interest rate changes.
1. Corporate earnings announcements and guidance
Investors eagerly await corporate earnings announcements throughout the year. Listed companies present their financial performance for a given period at these times, enabling the market to evaluate the business’s progress and compare the results with analysts’ expectations.
When announcing their financial results, many companies also provide guidance in the form of forecasts for their expected performance in the coming quarters. Investors closely monitor these outlooks, as they can influence market expectations and significantly impact share price movements.
• Information disclosed: revenue, profits, margins, debt, and guidance.
• Importance: it influences the company’s valuation and share price.
• Frequency: quarterly, half-yearly or annually.
• Where to find it: Investor Relations pages, stock exchanges, and financial platforms.
2. Announcements of key interest rates
Interest rates are decided at regular meetings held by central banks such as the Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the Bank of England (BoE). These meetings determine the direction of monetary policy, with announcements made about whether key interest rates will be held steady, raised, or lowered, and the reasons behind these decisions.
• Information disclosed: decision on interest rates and monetary policy statement.
• Importance: it influences credit, inflation, and financial markets.
• Frequency: meetings are scheduled throughout the year.
• Where to find it: central bank websites and economic calendars.
3. Publication of inflation data
The release of inflation data is one of the most significant events in the economic calendar, as it enables us to monitor price trends in the economy. Regularly published by official bodies, these indicators play a key role in assessing price stability and future monetary policy decisions.
• Information disclosed: Indicators such as the CPI, PCE, and HICP.
• Importance: it influences decisions on interest rates.
• Frequency: monthly.
• Where to find it: statistical bodies and economic calendars.
4. Publication of employment reports
Official bodies periodically publish employment reports that provide an up-to-date overview of labour market trends. This data enables you to monitor job creation and the unemployment rate, as well as other indicators that help you to assess the strength of economic activity and inflationary pressure.
• Information disclosed: jobs creation, unemployment, and wages.
• Importance: it evaluates the strength of the economy and the level of inflationary pressure.
• Frequency: monthly.
• Where to find it: official bodies and economic calendars.
5. Publication of GDP and economic growth data
The publication of gross domestic product (GDP) figures is one of the key events in the economic calendar, as it reveals the trend in a country’s or region’s economic activity over a given period. These figures are an essential benchmark for evaluating the rate of economic growth.
• Information disclosed: GDP growth and related revisions.
• Importance: it assesses the rate of economic activity.
• Frequency: quarterly.
• Where to find it: statistical bodies and central banks.
6. Publication of PMI indices
PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) figures are released every month. These indicators track trends in economic activity in the manufacturing and services sectors. As they are published before many other macroeconomic indicators, investors use them widely to anticipate trends.
• Information disclosed: activity in industry and services.
• Importance: it anticipates economic trends.
• Frequency: monthly.
• Where to find it: responsible bodies and economic calendars.
7. Publication of confidence indicators
Various confidence indicators are published throughout the year which seek to measure business and consumer sentiment regarding the current economic situation and future prospects. These figures help investors assess the level of confidence among economic agents, enabling them to anticipate potential changes in consumption, investment, and business activity.
• Information disclosed: consumer and business confidence.
• Importance: it anticipates trends in consumption and investment.
• Frequency: regular (depending on the indicator).
• Where to find it: public bodies and economic institutions.
8. Publication of data on the oil market
Economic calendars also include regular releases of data relating to oil stocks, production and prices. These publications enable investors to monitor developments in the energy market and assess the potential impact on inflation, production costs, and the performance of companies in the sector.
• Information disclosed: oil stocks, production, and price.
• Importance: it influences energy, inflation, and the markets.
• Frequency: weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
• Where to find it: EIA, OPEC, and financial platforms.
9. Publication of state budgets
The publication of state budgets and other fiscal policy announcements is a key event in the economic calendar, as measures relating to taxation, public spending, investment and other initiatives influence economic activity and the performance of different sectors.
• Information disclosed: taxes, public expenditure and fiscal measures.
• Importance: it influences economic growth and economic sectors.
• Frequency: annual.
• Where to find it: the government, its ministries, and specialist media.
10. Public debt auctions
Public debt auctions are held in accordance with schedules that are set in advance by the relevant government and debt management body. These events offer valuable insights into how governments raise funds in the markets, and they serve as key indicators of investor confidence in a country’s financial situation.
• Information disclosed: the amounts issued, the demand, and the rates achieved.
• Importance: it assesses both investor confidence and funding costs.
• Frequency: the pre-scheduled dates vary depending on the country and the type of issue.
• Where to find it: debt management agencies and economic calendars.
How to navigate the economic calendar
To get the most out of this tool, you need to know how to identify the most relevant events, correctly interpret the information released, and place it within the economic context. Here are some best practices:
1. Select the events that are most relevant to the financial markets in which you invest
The impact of events on the various asset classes is not always the same. Investors who focus on shares may pay more attention to the publication of company results and the guidance provided by management. In contrast, investors who focus on bonds tend to follow central bank decisions, inflation data, and government debt auctions more closely.
If you identify the events that are most relevant to your investment strategy in advance, you can filter the information you receive and focus your attention on the factors that can influence your portfolio.
2. Check the economic calendar before important trading periods
You should check the economic calendar regularly, particularly at the start of each trading week and whenever events are due to be announced that could impact the markets in which you invest. This approach allows you to predict times of increased market volatility and identify potential factors that could impact the performance of your assets.
The Banco Carregosa website features three economic calendars (stock market, earnings, and dividends) that you can refer to whenever you need to keep track of upcoming market events.
For example, when a decision on interest rates is due from the Federal Reserve (Fed), or when US inflation data is released, it is natural for shares, bonds, currencies and other assets to experience more significant fluctuations. Investors can better monitor the markets and contextualise any movements that may occur if they know these dates in advance.
3. Compare the published data with market expectations
The markets’ reaction often depends less on the actual value of the indicators and more on the difference between the reported results and analysts’ expectations. For example, a company may report higher profits than in the previous year yet still see its shares drop if these results fall short of market expectations. Sometimes, beating the forecast may not be enough to boost a particular share’s price if management’s guidance is unfavourable. Before each release, try to find out the analysts’ consensus to better understand how investors will react.
4. Prioritise official sources and credible platforms
The speed at which information is released means that it is essential to rely on reliable, up-to-date sources. Where possible, follow these events via the official websites of central banks, national statistical offices, listed companies, or recognised financial platforms. This helps to reduce the risk of misinterpreting outdated or incomplete data, which is particularly important during periods of heightened volatility.
Receive an analysis of Banco Carregosa
Banco Carregosa regularly publishes a variety of materials that compile much of this information, including the Daily Newsletter (providing market commentary and key news), the Weekly Newsletter (offering macroeconomic analysis, a review of the week, and published indicators), and the GoBulling Daily Report (providing quotes from the main indices, sector performance, and the day’s economic calendar). You can view them on the Banco Carregosa website or you can subscribe to receive them directly by e-mail, by completing this form and selecting "Market Studies and Technical Analysis + Newsletters” as your area of interest.
5. Analyse each event in its own economic context
A single economic indicator rarely provides a complete picture of the state of the economy. For instance, the implications of high inflation may differ depending on whether it is accompanied by solid economic growth or a slowdown in activity. Similarly, the interpretation of a positive employment report may differ if it occurs against a backdrop of tighter monetary policy. Therefore, it is always important to analyse each release alongside other indicators and the current economic situation.
Do you want to put the data you are tracking into context?
In our Quarterly Outlooks, the experts at Banco Carregosa analyse the current macroeconomic situation and the outlook for the main markets. Read the latest outlooks.
Economic calendar: you can rely on Banco Carregosa’s support
The first step towards investing with confidence is understanding the factors that drive the markets. This is why it is a very useful practice for any investor seeking to make strategic decisions to regularly monitor key economic and financial events via an economic calendar.
At Banco Carregosa, we make this process simpler by providing market information and analysis, as well as specialist support. Our solutions allow you to stay up to date with financial news and make informed decisions that are tailored to your risk profile. Contact us to find out how we can help you optimise your investment strategy.
Economic calendar: FAQs
We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the economic calendar.
Where can I find an economic calendar?
You can find economic calendars on financial platforms, through brokers, on specialist websites, and on the official websites of organisations such as central banks and statistical bodies. The Banco Carregosa website features three economic calendars that you can explore.
Are companies’ results more important than guidance?
Yes, in some cases. While results allow you to assess past performance, guidance provides an indication of the company’s future trajectory and often influences investor reaction more than anything else.
How frequently should I check the economic calendar?
Ideally, this should be done at the start of each trading week, or whenever you wish to keep track of events that could potentially impact the markets in which you invest.
Legal Disclaimer: This article has been prepared by Banco Carregosa for informational and educational purposes only. Under no circumstances does it constitute an investment proposal, recommendation to purchase, or personalised financial advice. Investing in financial instruments carries risks, including the possibility of losing the capital invested. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. We recommend that you consult an account manager or financial adviser before making any investment decisions, to ensure that they are suited to your risk profile and financial objectives.