Major U.S. stock market events in September
Most data in September are released at 8:30 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision is usually announced at 2:00 a.m. Beijing time.
September 1: ISM Manufacturing PMI, JOLTS job openings
September 2: ADP employment report
September 3: ISM Services PMI
Services account for a larger share of the U.S. economy, so the services PMI is sometimes more important than manufacturing PMI.
If the services price component remains elevated, the market may start trading on the idea of “delayed rate cuts” again; if services slow noticeably, expectations for rate cuts may rise.
September 4: August U.S. nonfarm payrolls report
This is the first truly major data release in September, and it can be checked on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report page (https://bls.gov/schedule/news_release/empsit.htm).
Focus on nonfarm payroll additions, the unemployment rate, average hourly earnings, and revisions to prior figures. Strong employment may give the Federal Reserve more reason to keep rates high; weak employment may intensify market concerns about an economic slowdown.
September 7: U.S. Labor Day, U.S. stock market closed
Labor Day is a U.S. federal holiday, and the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed.
September 10: August U.S. CPI consumer price index
CPI is one of the most important data releases in September and can be found on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI page.
Focus on overall CPI, core CPI, housing, and services prices. If inflation comes in below expectations, rate-cut expectations may rise; if inflation comes in above expectations, U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar may rise, and high-valuation tech stocks may face repricing.
September 11: August U.S. PPI producer price index
PPI reflects pricing pressure on the business side. Although the market pays less attention to it than CPI, if producer prices keep rising, investors may worry that CPI will also start climbing again.
September 15 to 16: Federal Reserve FOMC meeting
The Federal Reserve meeting schedule can be found on the official website.
At 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 16, the Federal Reserve will usually announce its interest rate decision, followed by a press conference with the Chair.
Domestic investors should focus on three things: whether rates are cut this time, how the dot plot changes, and Powell’s remarks on inflation, employment, and future policy.
Many times, what the market really trades is not just the words “rate cut,” but whether the Fed will keep cutting after that.
Most data in September are released at 8:30 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision is usually announced at 2:00 a.m. Beijing time.
September 1: ISM Manufacturing PMI, JOLTS job openings
September 2: ADP employment report
September 3: ISM Services PMI
Services account for a larger share of the U.S. economy, so the services PMI is sometimes more important than manufacturing PMI.
If the services price component remains elevated, the market may start trading on the idea of “delayed rate cuts” again; if services slow noticeably, expectations for rate cuts may rise.
September 4: August U.S. nonfarm payrolls report
This is the first truly major data release in September, and it can be checked on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report page (https://bls.gov/schedule/news_release/empsit.htm).
Focus on nonfarm payroll additions, the unemployment rate, average hourly earnings, and revisions to prior figures. Strong employment may give the Federal Reserve more reason to keep rates high; weak employment may intensify market concerns about an economic slowdown.
September 7: U.S. Labor Day, U.S. stock market closed
Labor Day is a U.S. federal holiday, and the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed.
September 10: August U.S. CPI consumer price index
CPI is one of the most important data releases in September and can be found on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI page.
Focus on overall CPI, core CPI, housing, and services prices. If inflation comes in below expectations, rate-cut expectations may rise; if inflation comes in above expectations, U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar may rise, and high-valuation tech stocks may face repricing.
September 11: August U.S. PPI producer price index
PPI reflects pricing pressure on the business side. Although the market pays less attention to it than CPI, if producer prices keep rising, investors may worry that CPI will also start climbing again.
September 15 to 16: Federal Reserve FOMC meeting
The Federal Reserve meeting schedule can be found on the official website.
At 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 16, the Federal Reserve will usually announce its interest rate decision, followed by a press conference with the Chair.
Domestic investors should focus on three things: whether rates are cut this time, how the dot plot changes, and Powell’s remarks on inflation, employment, and future policy.
Many times, what the market really trades is not just the words “rate cut,” but whether the Fed will keep cutting after that.
