Market Events
Markets often move before an event, not just after it. Traders position ahead of Federal Reserve meetings, inflation reports, and big earnings releases, and the price action in the days beforehand can tell you a lot about what is expected.
Most market-moving events follow a predictable calendar. The Federal Open Market Committee holds eight scheduled meetings a year. The jobs report usually lands on the first Friday of the month, inflation data around mid-month, and earnings season starts a few weeks after each quarter ends. Monthly options typically expire on the third Friday.
This section explains what each type of event is, why investors care, and what details tend to matter most when it arrives, so you can follow along instead of being surprised.
Key topics in market events
A typical week of market triggers
The recurring rhythm of releases, from Thursday jobless claims to mid-month CPI.
What moves markets on Fed day
The statement, the dot plot, the press conference, and the minutes.
Index rebalancing and options expiration
Mechanical flows that can move prices without new information.
Market-wide circuit breakers
The 7%, 13%, and 20% thresholds that pause trading in a panic.
Fiscal policy, trade, and regulation
Tariffs, debt-ceiling debates, and rule changes that reshape industries.
The 6-step trigger framework
A repeatable checklist for reading any event as it happens.
What to watch
- Implied probabilities for the next Fed decision from fed funds futures
- The official release calendars from the BLS, BEA, and Census Bureau
- Earnings dates for the largest companies in the S&P 500
- The third Friday of each month for options expiration
Frequently asked questions
How often does the Federal Reserve meet?
The Federal Open Market Committee holds eight regularly scheduled meetings per year and can meet between them if conditions require.
What time do major U.S. economic reports come out?
Many major government reports, including CPI and the jobs report, are released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, before the regular trading session opens at 9:30 a.m. ET.
What is a "dot plot"?
It is a chart in the Fed’s quarterly Summary of Economic Projections showing where each policymaker expects the federal funds rate to be at the end of upcoming years.
Official sources
For the full picture, read our complete guide to what moves the stock market.