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Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

The Week Ahead

Weeks commencing 22 December

& 29 December

Chris Beauchamp insight

As usual, the two weeks around Christmas and New Year are quite sparse. Durable goods and Federal Reserve (Fed) minutes are still released however, along with China purchasing managers indices (PMIs), providing some further insight for investors, though the easing bias at the Fed seems likely to persist into the new year. Usually one or two companies release earnings over these two weeks but this year the calendar is entirely blank.

Economic reports

  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Weekly view

22 December 2025:

None

 

29 December 2025:

3pm – US pending home sales (November): sales fell 0.4% year-on-year (YoY) in October. Markets to watch: USD crosses

23 December 2025:

1.30pm – US durable goods orders (October), gross domestic product (GDP) (third quarter (Q3), 2nd estimate): orders expected to fall 0.3%, GDP to grow 3.2%. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses

 

30 December 2025:

7pm – Fed minutes: these cover the decision to cut rates earlier in the month. Markets to watch: USD crosses

24 December 2025:

Christmas Eve – UK markets close at 12pm

1.30pm – US initial jobless claims (w/e 13 December). Markets to watch: USD crosses

3.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 19 December): stockpiles fell by 1.3 million barrels in the preceding week. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI

 

31 December 2025:

New Year’s Eve – UK markets close at 12pm

1.30am – China NBS PMI , RatingDog PMI (December): NBS PMIs expected to move back into expansion territory, at 50.1 for manufacturing and 50.5 for services. Markets to watch: CNH crosses

1.30pm – US initial jobless claims (w/e 27 December). Markets to watch: USD crosses

2.45pm – US Chicago PMI (December): expected to rise to 42 from 36.3. Markets to watch: USD crosses

3.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 26 December). Markets to watch: Brent, WTI

25 December 2025:

Christmas Day – US & UK markets closed

 

1 January 2026:

New Year’s Day – US & UK markets closed

26 December 2025:

Boxing Day – UK markets closed

 

2 January 2026:

None

Monday

22 December 2025:

None

 

29 December 2025:

3pm – US pending home sales (November): sales fell 0.4% YoY in October. Markets to watch: USD crosses

 

Tuesday

23 December 2025:

1.30pm – US durable goods orders (October), GDP (Q3, 2nd estimate): orders expected to fall 0.3%, GDP to grow 3.2%. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses

 

30 December 2025:

7pm – Fed minutes: these cover the decision to cut rates earlier in the month. Markets to watch: USD crosses

 

Wednesday

24 December 2025:

Christmas Eve – UK markets close at 12pm

1.30pm – US initial jobless claims (w/e 13 December). Markets to watch: USD crosses

3.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 19 December): stockpiles fell by 1.3 million barrels in the preceding week. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI

 

31 December 2025:

New Year’s Eve – UK markets close at 12pm

1.30am – China NBS PMI , RatingDog PMI (December): NBS PMIs expected to move back into expansion territory, at 50.1 for manufacturing and 50.5 for services. Markets to watch: CNH crosses

1.30pm – US initial jobless claims (w/e 27 December). Markets to watch: USD crosses

2.45pm – US Chicago PMI (December): expected to rise to 42 from 36.3. Markets to watch: USD crosses

3.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 26 December). Markets to watch: Brent, WTI

 

Thursday

25 December 2025:

Christmas Day – US & UK markets closed

 

1 January 2026:

New Year’s Day – US & UK markets closed

 

Friday

26 December 2025:

Boxing Day – UK markets closed

 

2 January 2026:

None

Company announcements

No companies reporting in the next two weeks

 

Monday
22 December

Tuesday
23 December

Wednesday
24 December

Thursday
25 December

Friday
26
December

Full-year earnings

       

 

Half/ Quarterly earnings      

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trading update    

 

 

 

Dividends

FTSE ex-dividend dates (29th December):

FTSE 100: British American TobaccoBT

FTSE 250: Schroder AsiaPacificGlobal Smaller Companies Trust

 

FTSE ex-dividend dates (2nd January):

FTSE 100: Auto TraderF&C Investment Trust

FTSE 250: Big Yellow, Murray International TrustIntegraFin

Index adjustments

 

Monday
22 December
Tuesday
 23 December
Wednesday 24
 December
Thursday
 25 December
Friday
 26 December
Monday
 29 December
FTSE 100         5.5  
Australia 200           10.4
Wall Street            
US 500 0.02 0.02   0.67 0.16 0.01
Nasdaq 100            
Netherlands 25            
US Russell 2000 0.07 0.03   0.13 0.11 0.09
China H-Shares            
Japan 225         50.5  
Hong Kong HS50            
South Africa 40   37.2        
France 40            
Stoxx 600            

* Please note these can change without notice

1 Dividend adjustments due to be posted on a bank holiday will usually be posted on the previous working day

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