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Jobless claims, Fed meeting minutes andpending home sales data will highlight another holiday-shortened week as traders get a day off for the New Year’s Day holiday onThursday. While bond markets will close early at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, stock markets are operating a normal schedule on New Year’sEve.
The first session of 2026 is on Friday,following a year where stocks turned around an April swoon to set major indexes on a path to close higher by double digits. History shows that strong trading
in December and January can set the tone for investors; analysts expect another
roller-coaster year for stocks is in store.
Read on for our calendar of key events thisweek—and one more thing.
Fed Minutes Come as Investors Eye WeeklyJobless Claims, Home Sales Data
There are no significant corporate earningson tap for this week, though investors may watch for the release of a few economic indicators and other reports.
On Tuesday, the minutes for the Decembermeeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will provide insight into how Fed members view the trajectory of the economy ahead of its next meeting in late January. The weekly jobless claims report, due Wednesday, will shine a
light on the labor market as the Fed keeps a close eye on jobs as it considers its next move on interest rates. The U.S. economy likely lost an average of 20,000 jobs per month between April and September. Pending home sales for November is dueMonday, giving a look at future sales levels in a housing market struggling with affordability. But the S&P Case-Shiller home price index, due the following day, arrives as home price growth slows as buyers show signs of reaching their limits.
This Week’sCalendar
Monday, Dec. 29: Pending home sales (November)
Tuesday, Dec. 30: S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (October), Chicago BusinessBarometer (December), December FOMC meeting minutes
Wednesday, Dec. 31: Initial jobless claims (Week ending Dec. 27), U.S. bond marketsclose at 2 p.m. ET
Thursday, Jan. 1: New Year’s Day holiday
Friday, Jan. 2: None scheduled
One More Thing
Twenty-two states will raise their minimumwage this year, with 19 of them set to make the change on New Year’s Day. Investopedia’s Sabrina Karl has moreon where the minimum wage is going up this year—andwhere it isn’t.