Key Economic Events: Week Of 4th May 2026
Release Date: 4th May 2026
What to Expect in Markets This Week: This week features Golden Week and regional holiday closures across China, Japan, the UK, Korea and Russia, the RBA policy decision, U.S. services data, JOLTS, jobless claims and Friday's payrolls report. The next Fed Interest Rate Decision on 17 June 2026 remains the final forward-looking USD policy marker in this calendar sequence.
4 May 2026
CN - China Labor Day
Date:
04-May-26, Mon, All Day
Currency:
Holiday
Importance:
-
Forecast:
-
Previous:
-
Notes:
China Labor Day keeps mainland markets closed and can reduce CNY and CNH liquidity during Asian trading hours. Offshore markets may still react to global risk sentiment, but local flow can be thinner around the holiday window.
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Legacy
JP - Greenery Day
Date:
04-May-26, Mon, All Day
Currency:
Holiday
Importance:
-
Forecast:
-
Previous:
-
Notes:
Greenery Day is part of Japan's Golden Week holiday period. Local market participation is typically reduced, which can dampen JPY liquidity and leave moves more sensitive to overseas catalysts.
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Legacy
UK - Early May Bank Holiday
Date:
04-May-26, Mon, All Day
Currency:
Holiday
Importance:
-
Forecast:
-
Previous:
-
Notes:
The Early May Bank Holiday closes UK banks and can reduce GBP liquidity during London hours. Price action may be more dependent on offshore risk sentiment and USD moves while local desks are lighter.
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Legacy
5 May 2026
CN - China Labor Day
Date:
05-May-26, Tue, All Day
Currency:
Holiday
Importance:
-
Forecast:
-
Previous:
-
Notes:
China Labor Day keeps mainland markets closed and can reduce CNY and CNH liquidity during Asian trading hours. Offshore markets may still react to global risk sentiment, but local flow can be thinner around the holiday window.
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Legacy
JP - Children's Day
Date:
05-May-26, Tue, All Day
Currency:
Holiday
Importance:
-
Forecast:
-
Previous:
-
Notes:
Children's Day is a public holiday in the local market. Reduced domestic participation can thin regional liquidity, especially during Asian session hours.
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Legacy
KR - Children's Day
Date:
05-May-26, Tue, All Day
Currency:
Holiday
Importance:
-
Forecast:
-
Previous:
-
Notes:
Children's Day is a public holiday in the local market. Reduced domestic participation can thin regional liquidity, especially during Asian session hours.
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Legacy
AU - RBA Interest Rate Decision (May)
Date:
05-May-26, Tue, 10:00 IST
Currency:
AUD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
4.10%
Previous:
-
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate decision is the main AUD event this week. Markets will focus on whether the statement confirms sticky inflation concerns or signals more confidence that policy is restrictive enough.
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AUDUSD AUDJPY
US - S&P Global Services PMI (Apr)
Date:
05-May-26, Tue, 19:15 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
2
Forecast:
51.3
Previous:
-
Notes:
The S&P Global Services PMI measures U.S. services-sector activity. A reading above 50 points to expansion, while a softer print can weigh on USD if it suggests slower demand in the largest part of the U.S. economy.
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USDJPY EURUSD
US - New Home Sales (Mar)
Date:
05-May-26, Tue, 19:30 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
587K
Previous:
-
Notes:
New Home Sales is a timely gauge of housing demand and interest-rate sensitivity. Stronger sales can support growth expectations, while weakness may highlight the drag from mortgage rates and cautious household demand.
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USDJPY EURUSD
US - JOLTS Job Openings (Mar)
Date:
05-May-26, Tue, 19:30 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
6.882M
Previous:
-
Notes:
JOLTS Job Openings tracks labor demand and is closely watched for signs of cooling employment conditions. A lower reading can ease wage-pressure concerns, while a resilient number may support the USD through firmer Fed expectations.
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USDJPY EURUSD
US - ISM Non-Manufacturing Prices (Apr)
Date:
05-May-26, Tue, 19:30 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
70.7
Previous:
-
Notes:
ISM Non-Manufacturing Prices captures price pressure in the services sector. Sticky prices can reinforce inflation concerns and keep front-end U.S. rate expectations supported.
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USDJPY EURUSD
US - ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI (Apr)
Date:
05-May-26, Tue, 19:30 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
54
Previous:
-
Notes:
ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI is a broad services activity indicator. Stronger readings usually support the USD by signaling resilient domestic demand, while downside surprises can pressure growth-sensitive assets.
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USDJPY EURUSD
6 May 2026
JP - Constitution Day
Date:
06-May-26, Wed, All Day
Currency:
Holiday
Importance:
-
Forecast:
-
Previous:
-
Notes:
Japan's Constitution Day observance is part of the Golden Week holiday period. Local market closures can reduce JPY liquidity and shift focus toward offshore USD and risk sentiment drivers.
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Legacy
US - ADP Nonfarm Employment Change (Apr)
Date:
06-May-26, Wed, 17:45 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
62K
Previous:
-
Notes:
ADP Nonfarm Employment Change provides an early private-sector labor-market signal ahead of official payrolls. It can move USD rates expectations when it meaningfully changes the market setup for Friday's jobs data.
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USDJPY EURUSD
7 May 2026
US - Initial Jobless Claims
Date:
07-May-26, Thu, 18:00 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
Link
Previous:
-
Notes:
Initial Jobless Claims is one of the timeliest U.S. labor-market indicators. Lower claims generally support the USD, while a higher reading can point to labor softening and lower rate expectations.
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USDJPY EURUSD
8 May 2026
US - Average Hourly Earnings (MoM) (Apr)
Date:
08-May-26, Fri, 18:00 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
0.20%
Previous:
-
Notes:
Average Hourly Earnings measures wage growth and is a key inflation input in the payrolls report. A stronger monthly increase can support the USD if it suggests wage pressure remains firm.
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USDJPY EURUSD
US - Nonfarm Payrolls (Apr)
Date:
08-May-26, Fri, 18:00 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
178K
Previous:
-
Notes:
Nonfarm Payrolls is the week's major U.S. labor-market release. A stronger print can lift the USD and Treasury yields, while weakness may revive expectations for easier Fed policy.
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USDJPY EURUSD
US - Unemployment Rate (Apr)
Date:
08-May-26, Fri, 18:00 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
4.30%
Previous:
-
Notes:
The Unemployment Rate summarizes labor-market slack. A lower rate generally supports USD sentiment, while a higher rate can weigh on the currency if it signals softer employment conditions.
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USDJPY EURUSD
9 May 2026
RU - Victory Day
Date:
09-May-26, Sat, All Day
Currency:
Holiday
Importance:
-
Forecast:
-
Previous:
-
Notes:
Victory Day is a Russian public holiday. Local market participation may be reduced, making RUB liquidity more dependent on offshore flows and broader commodity or geopolitical sentiment.
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Legacy
17 June 2026
USD - Fed Interest Rate Decision
Date:
17-Jun-26, Wed, 23:30 IST
Currency:
USD
Importance:
3
Forecast:
CME FedWatch Tool
Previous:
3.63%
Notes:
The Federal Reserve Interest Rate Decision remains the key medium-term USD catalyst. The 17 June 2026 meeting will reset expectations for policy guidance, the rate path, and near-term risk sentiment. This appears as the next Fed decision in this calendar sequence.
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USDJPY EURUSD