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. Analysis for Investors.

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

Macroeconomic Calendar (MSK)

1. 02:50 — Japan: Machinery and Equipment Orders (November). A leading indicator of investment activity in the Japanese industry.
2. 03:00 — Australia: Inflation Indicator from the Melbourne Institute (December). An unofficial monthly price indicator signalling trends prior to the quarterly CPI data release.
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, industrial production, retail sales, and unemployment rate. Key data on the world’s second-largest economy over the past quarter.
5. 12:00 — Eurozone: Final Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December 2025. Confirmed inflation estimate in the currency bloc.
6. All day — Switzerland: World Economic Forum in Davos (January 19–23). Beginning of the meeting of global political and business leaders to discuss 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 Q4

• China’s GDP: The growth of China’s economy is expected to continue in the fourth quarter of 2025, furthering recovery from previous periods. The annual GDP growth figure will signal the dynamics of the world’s second-largest economy; stronger figures would support raw material markets and currencies of emerging countries, while weak data could heighten concerns regarding slowing global growth.
• Industry and Consumption: December data on industrial production and retail sales in China will reveal the state of the manufacturing sector and domestic demand at year-end. An acceleration in factory output and a rise in retail trade would indicate a robust recovery of the Chinese economy, positively impacting global demand for raw materials and goods. Conversely, poor figures could negatively affect investor sentiment toward Asian markets.
• Impact on Markets: As the largest consumer of raw materials, China directly influences prices for oil, metals, and the dynamics of currencies in countries such as Australia and New Zealand. If Chinese indicators exceed expectations, it may enhance risk appetite in stock markets and push emerging market indices higher; however, disappointing data could bolster demand for safe-haven assets.

World Economic Forum in Davos

• Forum Kickoff: The annual World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos, Switzerland, running throughout the week (January 19–23). The theme for the 2026 meeting is “The Spirit of Dialogue,” set against a backdrop of changing geopolitical circumstances and challenges to the global economy.
• High-Level Participation: Leading global leaders and heads of major corporations are expected to attend. This year, particular attention will be focused on the U.S. delegation – according to media reports, the U.S. president will be one of the central speakers at the forum. Speeches from EU leaders and heads of major international organizations are also anticipated.
• Topics and Market Influence: The Davos agenda includes key issues of global security, combating inflation, restoring global trade, and technological changes. Statements made at the forum could influence investor sentiment; any signals regarding international cooperation, new economic initiatives, or risk assessments (for example, related to geopolitics and climate) are likely to prompt movement in currency and stock markets worldwide.

Corporate Reports: Asia

• LG Electronics (South Korea) – will release its financial results for the full year of 2025. Investors will evaluate electronics sales during the holiday season and the profitability of the company’s main divisions amid global competition in the consumer electronics segment.
• LG Energy Solution (South Korea) – report for 2025. One of the largest manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries will present its annual results; the market will look for signs of growing demand for EV batteries and the status of orders from automakers.
• Samsung Electro-Mechanics (South Korea) – financial report for Q4 2025. The company specializes in electronic components (capacitors, camera modules, etc.) for the global technology industry; results will provide insights into the state of supply chains and demand from electronics manufacturers.
• Samsung Biologics (South Korea) – report for Q4. Samsung's biopharmaceutical unit will present year-end metrics; investors will pay attention to the dynamics of contract manufacturing of drugs and biotech products, given the global trend towards pharmaceutical development.
• Hyundai Steel (South Korea) – report for Q4 2025. As a major steel producer, the company reflects activity in the construction and automotive sectors. Increases or decreases in Hyundai Steel’s profits signal trends in steel demand in Asia and globally.

Corporate Reports: USA and Europe

• American Tower (USA) – one of the few American companies in the S&P 500 with a report scheduled for January 19 (Q4 2025). This large real estate investment trust (REIT), which owns telecommunications towers, usually publishes results before market opening. While U.S. exchanges are closed, investors will analyze revenue from tower leasing and the management’s forecast to evaluate the 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 results for Q4. Although trading in 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 medications will announce preliminary results for Q4 after the closure of the European markets. Although Virbac is not among the largest companies in the Euro Stoxx 50, its reporting will highlight trends in the veterinary pharmaceutical market and may be indicative of the European healthcare sector.
• Note: Many heavyweights of the American and European markets (Netflix, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, etc.) will report later in the week. Monday is relatively quiet in terms of major releases, so investors are preparing for a deluge of earnings reports starting Tuesday.

Corporate Reports: Russia (MOEX)

• Russian Companies: No significant financial reports are scheduled for January 19 in the Russian market. Investors on the Moscow Exchange will primarily focus on external conditions. However, on the following day, major data from the country's largest bank is anticipated: Sberbank will announce financial results under 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 concerning Sberbank and the banking sector.

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

• S&P 500 (USA): American stock markets are closed on Monday due to the national holiday. U.S. index futures will respond only to overseas news. The absence of trading in New York may reduce overall volatility at the beginning of the day; however, by Tuesday the U.S. market will return to active trading, catching up on the data released over the holiday. The upcoming wave of corporate reports capable of shifting the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices remains a focal point.
• Euro Stoxx 50 (Eurozone): The European market on Monday will assess Chinese data – positive news from Asia may boost shares of mining companies and automakers present in the Euro Stoxx 50. The final Eurozone CPI for December, if it confirms a slowdown in inflation around ~2%, may support expectations for a dovish ECB policy and trigger a moderately positive reaction in European equities. The Davos forum will be a key theme of the week in Europe, where statements that could influence the business climate may emerge.
• Nikkei 225 (Japan): The Japanese index will react to the local statistics released in the morning (machinery orders) and the data from China. A neutral movement in the Nikkei is possible as investors have adopted a wait-and-see position ahead of the Bank of Japan's decision scheduled for Friday. The equipment manufacturer sector in Tokyo may react to the orders data (an increase in orders could support the stock prices of machinery companies).
• MOEX (Russia): The Moscow Exchange index will start the week without internal drivers, looking instead to global market sentiment and oil price dynamics. The lack of trading in the U.S. means weak external indicators during the day, so activity may be subdued. The ruble and stocks in the commodity sector will be sensitive to Chinese statistics (which could affect oil quotes). Investors are also factoring in corporate events for the week – aside from Sberbank’s report, they will closely monitor geopolitical news in the context of Davos.

Summary of the Day: Key Points for Investors

1. Data from China: The release of GDP and other indicators from China for Q4 will give direction to commodity markets and growth-sensitive assets. Exceeding forecasts for the Chinese economy will boost optimism in the markets, while weak figures could raise caution among investors.
2. Start of the Davos Forum: Statements from global leaders at the WEF may inject volatility, especially if issues concerning global trade, sanctions, or combating inflation are addressed. Investors should track key comments from Davos to respond timely to potential shifts in global sentiment.
3. Inflation in Canada: December’s CPI for Canada will indicate whether the trend of slowing price growth persists. The outcome is critical not just for the Canadian dollar and Bank of Canada’s policy but also as part of the overall picture of inflation in developed countries at 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 American players return to the market and react to Monday’s news. Given the low liquidity on January 19, caution is essential: sudden price movements may occur even against a limited news backdrop.