As 2026 unfolds, a number of economic and policy dates are likely to set the tone for markets, influence asset prices, and shape portfolio decisions.
From central bank meetings and inflation releases to government budgets and major data revisions, these calendar events act as signposts for shifts in growth, interest rates, and risk appetite.
JANUARY
US: Reporting Season
Q4 earnings kick off in January and the largest companies in the world will report full year results. Morningstar says this sets the tone for global risk sentiment, particularly tech results. “Many Aussie investors now have meaningful exposure to the US market. These investors may have portfolio volatility around this period.”
19 – 23 January
Europe: World Economic Forum – Davos, Switzerland
World leaders from government, business, civil society and academia will convene in Davos to engage in forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities.
26 January
AU: Australia Day – markets closed
28 January
US: Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) policy decision
FEBRUARY
AU: Reporting Season
February brings the first reporting season of 2026 for ASX-listed companies that begin releasing half-year results. Morningstar says while analysts pay close attention to earnings, the focus is on long-term results and valuations.
“A single earnings report usually doesn’t lead to a meaningful change in the long-term assumptions behind our assessment of a stock’s fair value, unless a company also comes out with new, material information that changes our long-term assumptions.”
3 February
AU: RBA monetary policy decision – With no meeting in January, the Reserve Bank of Australia makes its first interest rate decision of the year in February, having kept them unchanged at 3.6 per cent at its last meeting in December.
MARCH
17 March
AU: RBA monetary policy decision
18 March
US: FOMC monetary policy decision
APRIL
29 April
US: FOMC monetary policy decision
29 April
AU: Quarterly CPI data
MAY
5 May
AU: RBA monetary policy decision
AU: Federal budget announcement
JUNE
16 June
AU: RBA monetary policy decision
17 June
US: FOMC monetary policy decision
30 June
End of Financial Year
JULY
1 July
New financial year begins
29 July
AU: Quarterly CPI
29 July
US: FOMC monetary policy decision
AUGUST
AU: Reporting season
Full-year results for ASX-listed companies. Morningstar says there is outsized emphasis placed on reporting season when companies report either their full-year or half-year results.
“Investors may be able to find opportunities where the market has unfairly punished companies for unexpectedly poor results that do not impact the long-term outlook for the company.”
11 August
AU: RBA monetary policy decision
SEPTEMBER
16 September
US: FOMC monetary policy decision
29 September
AU: RBA monetary policy decision
OCTOBER
28 October
US: FOMC monetary policy decision
NOVEMBER
3 November
AU: RBA monetary policy decision
DECEMBER
8 December
AU: RBA monetary policy decision
9 December
US: FOMC monetary policy decision
