Detailed Overview of Economic Events and Corporate Reports for Monday, September 15, 2025. Data on China's Industrial Sector, Eurozone Trade Balance, Empire State Index in the USA, Christine Lagarde's Speech, and Corporate Earnings Reports from the USA, Canada, and Other Regions.
Trade Negotiations Between the USA and China in Spain
The United States and China are holding another round of trade negotiations in Madrid, Spain, from September 14 to September 17. High-ranking officials are present: from the USA, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and from China, Vice Premier He Lifeng and Chief Trade Negotiator Li Chenggang. The negotiations aim to prevent further escalation of the trade conflict; however, experts do not expect a breakthrough. A likely outcome will be an extension of the deadline for the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok in the USA, which is set to expire on September 17. Additionally, the existing "truce" in the trade war remains in place: US tariffs on Chinese goods are frozen at approximately 55% until November 10 by order of President Donald Trump.
Key points of the negotiations:
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Low probability of any significant breakthrough or new deal.
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The USA, according to Reuters, is seeking tariffs from allies (including G7 countries) against China and India for cooperating with Russia on oil.
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An extension of the TikTok sale deadline is expected to avoid its ban in the USA.
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In July, the parties extended the trade truce for 90 days, allowing the resumption of rare earth metal shipments from China and reductions in tariffs.
Emergency Summit of Arab and Islamic Countries (Day 2)
In Doha, Qatar, the second day of the emergency summit of Arab and Islamic country leaders is taking place in response to Israel's recent strike on Hamas targets in Qatar. The day before, foreign ministers prepared a draft resolution that strongly condemns the Israeli strike on September 9 as a destabilizing escalation; however, specific diplomatic or economic measures against Israel are not mentioned. Heads of state from the Arab world and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation intend to demonstrate unity and support for Qatar, making it clear that it is "not alone" in this situation.
Israel, for its part, has intensified pressure on Doha, demanding the expulsion of Hamas leaders or else "they will be removed by Israel," threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The USA, ally to both Qatar and Israel, has expressed dissatisfaction with the sudden attack: President Trump has called it unproductive for common goals and assured the Emir of Qatar that "nothing like this will happen again on their territory." The tension in the Middle East surrounding this incident could impact the oil market and investor sentiment in the region.
Japan: Public Holiday, Markets Closed
Monday is an official holiday in Japan - Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日). Consequently, the Tokyo stock market is closed, and trading is not taking place. Both stock exchanges and the derivatives market will be closed. Investors should note that the absence of trading in Japan may reduce overall activity in Asian markets on this day. Normal operations of Japanese exchanges will resume on Tuesday.
China: Industrial Production for August
Fresh data from China's National Bureau of Statistics on industrial production for August will be released early in the morning (05:00 MSK). A slight acceleration in the growth of industrial output is expected – around 5.7–5.8% year-on-year, which is comparable to July's level. In July, industrial growth slowed to 5.7% YoY (a minimum for eight months) after 6.8% in June and fell short of the forecast of 5.9%. Weak July data reflected sluggish domestic demand and issues in the real estate sector, intensifying pressure on Chinese authorities for new stimulus measures. August's statistics will show whether China's economy has stabilized. Retail sales and investment data will also be published; together, this statistics will provide a more complete signal to the markets about the state of the second-largest economy in the world.
Eurozone: Trade Balance for July
At 12:00 MSK, Eurostat will publish data on Eurozone external trade for July. In the previous month, there was a sharp decrease in the trade surplus: in June, the positive balance amounted to only €7.0 billion, while a year earlier it exceeded €20 billion. The June result was also much lower than expected (€13 billion) due to rising imports amid declining exports. Investors should closely monitor the trade balance as an indicator of external demand for European goods: a stable surplus supports the euro, while falling exports and a shrinking surplus (or a deficit) could increase pressure on the European currency. If the July figures show a recovery in exports or a decrease in imports, it could somewhat improve sentiment in the European market. On the contrary, continued weakness in Eurozone external trade would provide further arguments for the ECB's soft policy.
USA: NY Empire State Manufacturing Index (September)
At 15:30 MSK, the regional manufacturing activity index for New York – the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index for September – will be released. In August, the index unexpectedly jumped to +11.9 points – the highest in nine months and remained in growth territory (above zero) for the second consecutive month. In comparison, in July, the index was +5.5, and prior to that, several months had shown negative values, indicating a manufacturing decline. This surge signaled a temporary improvement in conditions for New York manufacturers, including an increase in new orders and shipping volumes. However, the consensus forecast for September is more restrained: analysts expect the index to retreat closer to zero (forecast around +3 points) amid ongoing demand constraints. For the markets, this regional index serves as an early indicator of national trends in the US industry. A sharp deviation of the September value from the forecast may trigger movements in the dollar's exchange rate and influence sentiments regarding industrial sector stocks.
Speech by ECB Head Christine Lagarde
Late in the evening (at 21:10 MSK), a public speech by the head of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, is expected. According to the ECB's press office, Lagarde will participate in a discussion titled "Conversations pour demain" on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Institut Montaigne think tank in Paris, starting at 20:30 CET (21:30 MSK). Markets will closely monitor Lagarde's comments despite the informal nature of the event. The key interest for investors lies in any hints at the ECB's future policy following the recent rate decision. Recall that last week the ECB lowered the deposit rate by 0.25% to 2.0%, signaling a shift to a softer stimulus cycle. If her speech includes assessments of the Eurozone economy, inflation prospects, or further regulatory measures, this could affect the dynamics of the euro and European bonds. However, the "for the future" format suggests strategic reflections rather than specifics regarding rates, so strong market movements from this speech are not expected.
Corporate Earnings Reports from Public Companies
On September 15, relatively few corporate reports are scheduled to be released as the main quarterly results season has already concluded. However, several public companies worldwide are set to publish their financial results, including a few notable names. Below are key reports that investors should pay attention to on this day:
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Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ: HAIN) – an American organic food producer. It is set to report for the 4th quarter of the 2025 fiscal year. Forecast: earnings of only $0.04 per share (–69% YoY) with revenue of around $372 million (–10% YoY). Such weak dynamics reflect declining demand in the company's core business and growing losses. HAIN's market capitalization has sharply decreased over the past year to approximately $164 million, with shares trading around $2. Investors will assess whether management has managed to stabilize sales in international markets to compensate for the decline in the USA.
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Hydrofarm Holdings (NASDAQ: HYFM) – one of the leaders in the indoor farming and hydroponics market. A report for the 2nd quarter of 2025 is expected. Previous results were unfavorable: revenue in Q2 fell by 28.4% to $39.2 million, and net losses decreased only slightly. The equipment sector for growing cannabis and vegetables indoors continues to decline following the boom of 2020–2021. Investors are keen to hear management's comments on demand prospects and cost-cutting measures, considering that profitability is not expected until at least 2026.
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MindWalk Holdings (NASDAQ: HYFT) – formerly known as ImmunoPrecise, a biotechnology company (antibodies and AI developments) that recently changed its name and ticker. Reporting for the 1st quarter of the 2025 fiscal year (ending July 31). The consensus forecast is a loss of approximately –$0.05 per share, with revenue growth of about 19% year-on-year (to C$6.3 million). MindWalk's corporate report attracts attention due to its strategic business repositioning: the company is betting on AI platforms for drug development, and investors will assess how this reflects on its finances. Despite losses, revenue growth and positive forecasts from analysts (consensus target of $5 per share against approximately $2 currently) offer reasons for optimism.
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WaveDancer Inc. (NASDAQ: WAVD) – a small American IT company specializing in blockchain solutions for supply chains and cybersecurity. A report for the second quarter of 2025 (April to June) is expected. The company is a micro-cap (market capitalization of around $20–30 million), formerly known as Information Analysis Inc., so its figures are of interest only to a niche group of investors. WaveDancer is likely to report a loss of a few cents per share with modest revenue. However, any news about new contracts in the US government procurement sector or blockchain projects may trigger high volatility in WAVD shares.
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High Tide Inc. (NASDAQ: HITI) – a Canadian operator of a cannabis retail chain and accessories, as well as owner of several online platforms for smokers. It will present financial results for the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year (May–July 2025). The release is scheduled for after the market closes. In the previous quarter, High Tide showed sales growth: revenue for February–April totaled approximately C$142.5 million (+46% YoY), although the company remains unprofitable. Investors will be waiting for fresh data on sales dynamics in Canadian dispensaries and the e-commerce business margin. The cannabis sector is under pressure due to regulatory barriers and competition, so any positive surprises in the HITI report may lead to notable movements in its stock.
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Dave & Buster’s Entertainment (NASDAQ: PLAY) – an American entertainment restaurant chain, whose earnings are part of the S&P MidCap 400. It will publish results for the 2nd quarter of 2025 after market close. Analysts forecast a quarterly profit of about $0.88 per share (–21% YoY), with revenue around $562 million (+0.9% YoY). In the previous quarter, D&B already faced declining foot traffic and rising expenses, and in the summer period's report, investors seek signs of demand recovery. Sales statistics for food and entertainment within the complex will show whether the chain managed to attract visitors through promotions and new games. Separately, the market will assess comments on expansion plans (currently around 240 locations) and the impact of inflation on attendance. Despite the 13.9% drop in shares over the last month, Dave & Buster’s remains in a stable position, projected as "Hold" (neutral) by analysts, awaiting improvement in consumer activity.
It is worth noting that on Monday, there are no major reports from companies listed in the S&P 500 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices, as most giants have already reported for the second quarter earlier. In Japan, due to the public holiday, there are also no publications from representatives of the Nikkei 225. In the Russian market, no major releases are expected on September 15 from MOEX. Nevertheless, for CIS investors monitoring global markets, it is important to note that reports from global companies such as FedEx (USA) and General Mills (USA) will be released later in the week—these events could impact the global news backdrop after Monday.
Conclusion
Monday, September 15, 2025, promises to be rich with events that could set the tone for the markets. For investors, the key highlights are the progression of the dialogue between the USA and China amid trading tensions, stabilization of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, and fresh signals from macroeconomic statistics in China, the Eurozone, and the USA. Christine Lagarde's evening speech may offer hints about the ECB's monetary policy direction. In the domain of corporate reporting, attention will focus on niche but representative cases: problematic players like Hain Celestial and Hydrofarm will demonstrate the depth of their difficulties, while more resilient companies (such as Dave & Buster’s) will confirm or refute consumer demand trends. Overall, the combination of economic events and corporate news this day will help investors adjust their strategies by assessing risks and opportunities in the global markets at the beginning of a new week.
