Market Movers hub - block 1 of 3: hero and intro

Market movers

Your guide to the upcoming market events that drive volatility across indices, currencies, commodities and shares. See what is scheduled, why it matters, and how to read it.

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The basics

What is a market mover?

A market mover is a scheduled or anticipated event that can shift the price of financial instruments, often sharply. Central bank decisions, inflation and jobs data, company earnings, index rebalances, the expiry of options and futures, and high-profile new listings all qualify. Because most are scheduled in advance, you can prepare for them rather than be caught out.

This hub brings the calendar together in one place: what is coming up, why each event matters, and links to guides on how each one works. For exact timings, consensus forecasts and previous readings, pair it with the live economic calendar.

Market Movers hub - block 2 of 3: events calendar

The calendar

Upcoming market events

4August2026

High impact

SpaceX second quarter results

Watch: SPCX, US technology indices, related space and satellite shares

SpaceX reports second-quarter results after the US close, its first set of figures as a listed company. First results following a large listing tend to draw heavy volume, as the market gets its first look at the reporting detail behind the prospectus. The date also starts the clock on the company's staggered insider share unlock.

6August2026

Medium impact

SpaceX insider share unlock begins

Watch: SPCX, US technology indices, volume and liquidity

Two full trading days after the results, the first tranche of SpaceX's staggered lock-up releases, allowing insiders to sell up to 20 per cent of restricted holdings. An unlock increases the number of shares available to trade, which can lift volume and widen intraday ranges. Further tranches follow through the autumn, with the full 180-day lock-up ending in December.

7August2026

High impact

US jobs report (Nonfarm Payrolls)

Watch: US dollar, US indices, gold, bond yields

The July payrolls report, alongside the unemployment rate and average hourly earnings. It is the first of two jobs reports before the September Fed meeting, which tends to sharpen the reaction. Revisions to the previous two months often matter as much as the headline figure.

How to trade the NFP report

12August2026

High impact

US inflation (CPI)

Watch: US dollar, US indices, gold, bond yields

July CPI, with core CPI watched most closely as a guide to the underlying trend. Landing between the July and September Fed meetings, it feeds directly into expectations for the next decision.

What is the Consumer Price Index?

13August2026

Medium impact

US producer prices (PPI)

Watch: US dollar, bond yields, US indices

Producer prices measure inflation at the wholesale level and can point to cost pressure that later reaches consumers. Arriving the day after CPI, it either supports or complicates the inflation picture from the previous session.

14August2026

Medium impact

US retail sales

Watch: US dollar, US indices, consumer and retail shares

Advance retail sales for July, the first read on consumer spending for the month. Consumption drives the largest share of US output, so the figure feeds into growth expectations as well as the rate outlook.

19August2026

Medium impact

FOMC minutes

Watch: US dollar, bond yields, gold, US indices

The full account of the July meeting, published three weeks after the decision. Minutes can show how divided the committee was and what conditions members attached to any future move, detail that the statement and press conference do not carry.

21August2026

Medium impact

August monthly options expiry

Watch: US index CFDs, individual shares, volume

The standard monthly expiry of stock and index options on the third Friday. Smaller in scale than the quarterly triple witching due in September, but positioning around large open interest can still affect volume and price action into the close.

26August2026

High impact

US PCE inflation and second quarter GDP

Watch: US dollar, bond yields, gold, US indices

Two releases from the same agency at the same time: the PCE price index for July, the inflation measure the Federal Reserve targets, and the second estimate of second-quarter GDP with corporate profits. PCE usually confirms rather than contradicts the CPI picture, so the larger surprise tends to come from the growth figures.

26August2026

High impact

Nvidia second quarter results

Watch: NVDA, US technology indices, semiconductor and AI-related shares

Nvidia reports second-quarter results for its 2027 financial year after the US close. Because of its index weight and its position in the AI supply chain, the reaction often extends well beyond the share itself to semiconductors and the broader technology indices.

How to trade big tech earnings

27-29August2026

Medium impact

Jackson Hole Economic Symposium

Watch: US dollar, bond yields, gold, global indices

The annual gathering of central bankers hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, held this year from 27 to 29 August under the theme "Financial Innovation: Implications for Payments and Policy". Speeches here have historically signalled shifts in policy thinking, which can move currencies and rates. The Chair's address is usually the most closely watched moment, though the speaker list is confirmed shortly before the event.

28August2026

Medium impact

Preliminary benchmark revision to US payrolls

Watch: US dollar, bond yields, US indices

An annual recalculation of payroll growth against tax records, covering the twelve months to March 2026. It is a technical exercise rather than new monthly data, but a large revision changes the recent picture of the labour market, and previous revisions have moved rate expectations.

15-16Sept2026

High impact

US Federal Reserve interest rate decision, with projections

Watch: US dollar, US indices, gold, bond yields

This meeting includes a fresh set of economic projections and an updated "dot plot", which can reset expectations for the rest of the year.

18Sept2026

Medium impact

Triple witching and quarterly index rebalancing

Watch: US index CFDs, individual shares, volume and liquidity

The third-quarter expiry and rebalance. Expect heavier volume and the potential for sharper moves around the close, as in March and June.

How index rebalancing works

MidOct2026

High impact

Q3 2026 earnings season begins

Watch: US bank shares first, then big tech, plus related index CFDs

The third-quarter reporting season opens with the major US banks, followed by the large technology names. As ever, the reaction tends to hinge on results and guidance relative to expectations.

How to trade US bank earnings How to trade big tech earnings

27-28Oct2026

High impact

US Federal Reserve interest rate decision (FOMC)

Watch: US dollar, US indices, gold, bond yields

A scheduled decision without updated projections, landing in the middle of Q3 earnings season. The combination can lift volatility across US assets.

8-9Dec2026

High impact

US Federal Reserve interest rate decision, final of the year

Watch: US dollar, US indices, gold, bond yields

The last meeting of 2026 includes updated projections and sets the tone heading into the new year.

18Dec2026

High impact

Quadruple witching, plus S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 year-end review

Watch: US index CFDs, individual shares, technology names, volume

The December expiry coincides with the most significant index review of the year, when constituents and weights are reset and tracking funds trade large volumes to realign. Changes are typically announced about a week before and take effect the following Monday.

Nasdaq 100 rebalancing explained

Market Movers hub - block 3 of 3: guides and FAQ

New listings

Eyeing the next big IPO?

From OpenAI to Anthropic, see the listings traders are watching this year, with expected timings, valuations and how to get exposure.

See upcoming IPOs

The method

How to read a market event

Most scheduled events follow a familiar rhythm. Understanding it helps you make sense of price action rather than be surprised by it. This is general education, not advice on any position.

Expectations are priced in early

Markets often move in the days before an event as participants position for the likely outcome. By the time the event arrives, a great deal may already be reflected in the price.

The surprise matters more than the number

What tends to move prices is the gap between the result and what was expected. A strong figure that was already anticipated can prompt little reaction, while a small surprise can move markets sharply.

Volatility and liquidity shift

Around major events, spreads can widen, prices can gap between levels, and volume can spike. Conditions can change quickly in the minutes around a release.

Manage your exposure

Because leverage amplifies both gains and losses, position size, the role and limits of stop orders, and your total exposure matter most when volatility is high. Consider seeking independent advice if you are unsure.

ThinkTrader + AI

Follow market events with ChelseaAI

ChelseaAI connects your live ThinkTrader account to an MCP-compatible AI assistant such as Claude, ChatGPT or Grok. Around the events on this page, you can ask it to analyse current market conditions, review your positions and exposure, and act on your instructions, all in one conversation.

ChelseaAI is an interface, not an adviser: it carries out what you ask and does not provide recommendations or investment advice. Connect a live or demo account, choose read-only or full access, and revoke it at any time.

The categories

Event types explained

Different events move markets for different reasons. Explore each category and read the linked guides to understand them in depth.

Macro and central banks Rates and economic data

Interest rate decisions, inflation and jobs data shape currencies, bond yields and equity valuations worldwide.

What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)? Trading the Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) Trading the ECB decision

Earnings Company results

Quarterly results and guidance can reprice individual shares and, when the largest companies report, whole indices.

What are earnings reports? How to trade big tech earnings How to trade US bank earnings

New listings IPOs and debuts

High-profile listings draw attention long before they trade. Understand the timelines, valuations and instruments involved.

Upcoming IPOs to watch in 2026 OpenAI IPO 2026 Anthropic IPO 2026

Index and derivatives Rebalances and expiries

Index reshuffles and the simultaneous expiry of options and futures drive mechanical, high-volume trading on set dates.

Nasdaq 100 rebalancing explained

Crypto Digital asset events

Crypto has its own calendar of supply and sentiment events that can spill over into related shares and indices.

What is the Bitcoin halving event? What is Bitcoin Pizza Day?

Macro themes Structural shifts

Elections, policy regimes and long-run themes set the backdrop against which shorter-term events play out.

Markets in presidential election years What is de-dollarisation?

FAQ

Market events: your questions answered

What is a market event?

A market event is a scheduled or anticipated occurrence that can affect the price of financial instruments. Examples include central bank interest rate decisions, company earnings reports, index rebalances, the expiry of options and futures, and high-profile new listings. Because many of these are scheduled in advance, traders can prepare for the potential rise in volatility.

What is triple witching, and why does it matter?

Triple witching is the simultaneous expiry of stock options, stock index options and stock index futures. It happens on the third Friday of March, June, September and December. The clustering of expiries, often alongside index rebalancing, tends to produce a sharp increase in trading volume and can lead to larger price swings, particularly in the final hour of trading. When single-stock futures are included, the same event is sometimes called quadruple witching.

What is index rebalancing?

Index providers periodically review which companies belong in an index and how much weight each one carries. When a company is added, removed or reweighted, the funds that track that index must adjust their holdings to match. Because those funds manage very large sums, the buying and selling around a rebalance can move the affected shares and the index itself, even without any change in the underlying companies.

Why do central bank decisions move so many markets?

Interest rates influence the cost of borrowing, the return on savings and the relative appeal of one currency over another. A decision, or even a change in tone about future decisions, can therefore ripple through currencies, bonds, equities and commodities at once. Markets usually price in an expected outcome ahead of time, so the reaction often depends on how the decision and the accompanying commentary compare with those expectations.

How can I prepare for a high-impact event?

Preparation is about understanding rather than prediction. Know when the event is scheduled and what the market expects, using a tool such as the economic calendar. Be aware that spreads can widen and prices can gap in volatile conditions, and understand how leverage affects your exposure and the role and limitations of risk-management tools such as stop orders. Trading on leverage carries a high risk of loss, so consider seeking independent advice if you are unsure whether it is suitable for you.

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