Economic Events and Corporate Reports - Monday, January 19, 2026: China's GDP, Davos, Inflation

Key Economic Events and Corporate Reports for Monday, January 19, 2026: China's GDP, Inflation in Canada, Start of the Davos Forum, and Reports from Major Public Companies Worldwide. Analytics for Investors.

Monday marks the beginning of a new week in global markets with a focus on international events. Investor attention is directed towards macroeconomic statistics from Asia and North America, along with the commencement of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. Trading activity may be subdued due to the U.S. holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), however, the released data on China's economy and inflation in Canada could set the tone for indices such as the Euro Stoxx 50, Nikkei 225, and other markets. On the corporate front, reports from several large companies in Asia will begin to be released, while the earnings season in the U.S. is only starting to gain momentum (with major releases beginning Tuesday). Let’s take a closer look at the agenda for January 19, 2026, and the key points that investors should pay attention to.

Macroeconomic Calendar (MSK)

1. 02:50 — Japan: Change in machinery and equipment orders (November). A leading indicator of investment activity in Japan's industry.
2. 03:00 — Australia: Melbourne Institute Inflation Indicator (December). An unofficial monthly price gauge signaling trends ahead of quarterly CPI data releases.
3. 03:01 — United Kingdom: Rightmove House Price Index (January). A barometer of activity in the UK real estate market.
4. 05:00 — China: Block of statistics for Q4 2025 – GDP growth rates, industrial production, retail sales, and unemployment. Key data from the world’s second-largest economy for the past quarter.
5. 12:00 — Eurozone: Final Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December 2025. Confirmed inflation estimate for the currency bloc.
6. All Day — Switzerland: World Economic Forum in Davos (January 19–23). The beginning of discussions among global leaders in politics and business focused on the global economy.
7. 16:30 — Canada: Consumer Price Index (CPI) (December). Inflation data for Canada for the previous month, important for the Bank of Canada and currency markets.

Focus: China's Economy in the Fourth Quarter

• China's GDP: The Chinese economy is expected to grow in Q4 2025, continuing its recovery from earlier periods. The year-on-year GDP growth figure from China will signal the dynamics of the world’s second-largest economy; stronger figures will support commodity markets and currencies of emerging economies, while weak data may amplify concerns about slowing global growth.
• Industry and Consumption: December's data on industrial production and retail sales in China will reflect the state of the manufacturing sector and domestic demand at year-end. An increase in factory output and retail growth would indicate a robust recovery of China’s economy, positively impacting global demand for commodities and goods. Conversely, if the figures come in below expectations, it might negatively affect investor sentiment towards Asian markets.
• Market Impact: As the largest consumer of raw materials, China directly affects oil prices, metals, and the dynamics of currencies from countries like Australia and New Zealand. Positive surprises in Chinese indicators could enhance risk appetite in markets and push indices in emerging markets higher, while disappointment in the data may strengthen the demand for safe-haven assets.

World Economic Forum in Davos

• Forum Opening: The annual World Economic Forum begins in Davos, Switzerland, running throughout the week (January 19–23). The theme for the 2026 meeting is “Spirit of Dialogue,” set against a backdrop of changing geopolitical conditions and challenges for the global economy.
• High-Profile Participants: Leading global leaders and heads of major corporations are expected to attend. This year, special attention will be on the U.S. delegation – media reports indicate that the U.S. President will be one of the central speakers at the forum. Also anticipated are addresses from the leaders of the European Union and major international organizations.
• Topics and Market Impact: Key issues on the Davos agenda include global security, combating inflation, restoring global trade, and technological changes. Statements made at the forum can influence investor sentiment: any signals regarding international cooperation, new economic initiatives, or risk assessments (for example, concerning geopolitics and climate) are likely to move currency and equity markets worldwide.

Corporate Reports: Asia

• LG Electronics (South Korea) – releasing financial results for the full year 2025. Investors will assess electronics sales during the holiday season and the profitability of the company’s core divisions amid global competition in the consumer electronics segment.
• LG Energy Solution (South Korea) – 2025 report. One of the largest manufacturers of batteries for electric vehicles will present annual results; the market will look for signs of rising demand for EV batteries and the status of orders from automakers.
• Samsung Electro-Mechanics (South Korea) – Q4 2025 financial report. The company specializes in electronic components (capacitors, camera modules, etc.) for the global tech industry; results will provide insight into supply chain conditions and demand from electronics manufacturers.
• Samsung Biologics (South Korea) – Q4 report. Samsung's biopharmaceutical division will present end-of-year metrics; investors will focus on the dynamics of contract manufacturing of medications and biotechnological products, considering the global trend in pharmaceuticals.
• Hyundai Steel (South Korea) – Q4 2025 report. As a major steel producer, the company reflects activity in the construction and automotive sectors. An increase or decrease in Hyundai Steel's profit signals trends in steel demand in Asia and globally.

Corporate Reports: USA and Europe

• American Tower (USA) – one of the few American S&P 500 companies with a report scheduled for January 19 (Q4 2025). This large REIT that owns telecommunications towers typically releases results before the market opens. While U.S. exchanges are closed, investors will analyze rental income from towers and management's forecast to assess prospects for the telecom sector and infrastructure REITs in 2026.
• United Microelectronics (UMC, Taiwan) – a significant Asian semiconductor manufacturer (the second-largest contract chipmaker after TSMC) will present its Q4 results. Although trading of UMC shares occurs in Asia, the company's data is of interest to global investors due to the situation in the semiconductor industry and demand for chips ahead of reports from American tech giants.
• Virbac (France) – a pharmaceutical company specializing in veterinary products will announce preliminary Q4 results after the close of European trading. Although Virbac is not among the largest companies in the Euro Stoxx 50, its report will provide insights into trends in the veterinary pharmaceutical market and could indicate health sector dynamics in Europe.
• Note: Many heavyweight American and European companies (Netflix, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, etc.) will report later in the same week. The Monday schedule features fewer major releases, hence investors are preparing for a wave of reports starting Tuesday.

Corporate Reports: Russia (MOEX)

• Russian Companies: No significant financial reporting is scheduled for the Russian market on January 19. Investors on the Moscow Exchange will primarily focus on external conditions. However, the following day will see the release of data from the country's largest bank: Sberbank will present its financial results according to RAS for December 2025. This report may influence the dynamics of the MOEX index on Tuesday, so some market participants will closely monitor any news related to Sberbank and the banking sector.

Other Markets and Indexes: S&P 500, Euro Stoxx 50, Nikkei 225, MOEX

• S&P 500 (USA): American stock exchanges are closed on Monday due to the national holiday. U.S. index futures will only react to foreign news. The absence of trading in New York may lower overall volatility at the beginning of the day; however, starting Tuesday, the U.S. market will return to active trading, catching up on the reactions to the data from the holiday. The upcoming stream of corporate reports continues to be a focal point, as they may shift indices for S&P 500 and Nasdaq.
• Euro Stoxx 50 (Eurozone): For the European market, Monday will start with evaluations of Chinese data – positive news from Asia may push up shares of mining companies and automakers present in the Euro Stoxx 50. The final Eurozone CPI for December, if confirmed to show inflation around ~2%, will support expectations of a dovish ECB policy and may cause a moderately positive reaction in European equities. The Davos forum's theme will dominate discussions in Europe this week, where statements may influence the business climate.
• Nikkei 225 (Japan): The Japanese index will react to the released local statistics (machinery orders) and data from China. A neutral movement in Nikkei is likely as investors take a wait-and-see position ahead of the Bank of Japan's decision scheduled for Friday. The equipment manufacturing sector in Tokyo may respond to orders data (an increase in orders would support shares of machinery companies).
• MOEX (Russia): The Moscow Exchange index will start the week without internal drivers, relying on the mood of global markets and oil price dynamics. The absence of trading in the U.S. means weak external benchmarks during the day, thus activity may be lower than usual. The ruble and shares in the commodity sector will be sensitive to Chinese statistics (which could impact oil prices). Investors are also gearing up for corporate events of the week – besides the Sberbank report, they will be watching geopolitical news in the context of Davos.

End of Day: What Investors Should Pay Attention To

1. China Data: The release of GDP and other indicators from China for Q4 will guide commodity markets and growth-sensitive assets. Beating forecasts for the Chinese economy will bolster market optimism, while weak figures may elevate investor caution.
2. Start of the Davos Forum: Statements from global leaders at the WEF may bring volatility, especially if they address topics of world trade, sanctions, or inflation combat. Investors should monitor key comments from Davos to react promptly to potential shifts in global sentiment.
3. Inflation in Canada: The December CPI data for Canada will indicate whether the trend of slowing price growth continues. This result is crucial not just for the Canadian dollar and the Bank of Canada’s policy but also as part of the overall picture of inflation in developed countries by the end of 2025.
4. Market Activity: With the U.S. holiday, trading volumes on European and Asian exchanges may be lower than usual. Investors should be prepared for potential price swings on Tuesday when U.S. players return to the market to react to Monday’s news. Given the low liquidity on January 19, it’s important to proceed with caution: sudden price movements are possible even amid a limited news backdrop.