Economic Events and Corporate Reports Overview for the Week of May 11-15, 2026: U.S. CPI, Eurozone and U.K. GDP, Trump's Visit to China, OPEC and IEA Reports, Earnings Reports from Major Public Companies
The week of May 11-15, 2026, promises to be one of the busiest for global investors in the latter half of spring. Focus will be on inflation data from the U.S., Germany, China, Brazil, and Russia, preliminary GDP estimates for the Eurozone and the U.K., monthly reports from OPEC and the IEA concerning the oil market, as well as the two-day visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to China. Adding to the political and monetary landscape will be the conclusion of Jerome Powell’s term as Chair of the Federal Reserve on May 15.
The stock market continues to experience the first-quarter corporate earnings season for 2026. While the peak may have passed, investors remain vigilant to the results from the largest companies across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. According to FactSet, 80% of companies that have reported so far surpassed revenue expectations, and 84% exceeded earnings per share estimates, both figures above the average rates for the past five and ten years. Reports from technology firms and newly announced buyback programs continue to be a key driver of the S&P 500 index, which is trading at record levels.
Monday, May 11, 2026: Inflation in China, U.S. Housing Market, and Tariff Reimbursements Begin
The week will start with significant signals from China and a noteworthy political-economic event in the U.S. At 04:30 Moscow time, consumer inflation data for China for April will be released. For global markets, this serves as an important indicator of domestic demand in the largest Asian economy and a critical benchmark for the commodity sector, as Chinese price dynamics directly impact expectations for oil, metals, and industrial production.
In the U.S., the Trump administration will begin reimbursing tariffs totaling approximately $166 billion deemed unlawful by a court ruling. This could serve as a support factor for working capital for businesses, particularly importers, retailers, logistics providers, and companies heavily reliant on external supplies. At 17:00 Moscow time, existing home sales data for April will be released, aiding assessments of American consumer resilience amid high rates and expensive mortgages.
- Key Economic Events: China CPI for April, beginning of the reimbursement of unlawful tariffs in the U.S., Existing Home Sales in the U.S.
- Pre-market Reports: Constellation Energy, Barrick Mining, Circle Internet Group, Telefónica, Fox Corporation, Mosaic, monday.com.
- Post-market Reports: Petrobras, Simon Property Group, AST SpaceMobile, Steris, Ovintiv, AECOM, Hims & Hers Health.
For investors, Monday will be a day of evaluating consumer demand in China and the U.S. housing market, as well as the first test of how non-big tech companies can sustain the positive momentum of the earnings season.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026: U.S. CPI, ZEW Index, Oil Forecasts, and One of the Week's Major Days
Tuesday will serve as the central day of the week regarding macroeconomics. In the morning, April inflation figures from Germany, the producer price index from Switzerland, and May ZEW economic expectations indices for Germany and the Eurozone will be released. These releases will indicate how robust the recovery in business sentiment is in Europe and how the market assesses the prospects for easing policy by the European Central Bank.
The main event of the day is scheduled for 15:30 Moscow time—the release of U.S. consumer inflation figures for April. This report has the potential to direct movement for the dollar, Treasury yields, and stock indices for the remainder of the week. If core inflation exceeds expectations, the market could reassess the timing of future Federal Reserve rate cuts. Additional signals will come from the U.S. in the form of the weekly ADP employment report, the April federal budget, the WASDE report on the global agricultural market, and short-term oil forecasts from the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Key Economic Events: Germany CPI, Switzerland PPI, Germany and Eurozone ZEW, Brazil CPI, ADP Employment, U.S. CPI, WASDE, short-term U.S. energy forecasts, U.S. federal budget, weekly API oil inventories.
- Pre-market Reports: KBC Group, Sea Limited, Bayer, JD.com, Vodafone, Qnity Electronics, George Weston, Millicom International Cellular, Under Armour.
- Post-market Reports: Franco-Nevada, Constellation Software, Power Corporation of Canada, Ecopetrol, Oklo, Finning International, Karman Space & Defense.
For the stock market, Tuesday will be pivotal: U.S. inflation data has the ability to either heighten or diminish expectations for rate cuts, hence altering the assessment of growth stocks, banks, and consumer sector companies.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026: Eurozone GDP, OPEC and IEA Reports, U.S. PPI, and Earnings Reports from Chinese Tech Giants
On Wednesday, investors' attention will be split between Europe, the oil market, and the largest companies in Asia. At 12:00 Moscow time, preliminary GDP for the Eurozone for the first quarter of 2026 will be released. This figure will provide insights into the region's economic growth pace following a period of weak industrial activity and clarify whether expectations for further easing of ECB monetary policy are justified.
On the same day, two key reports for the oil market will be released: the IEA's monthly report at 12:00 Moscow time and the OPEC monthly report at 14:00 Moscow time. Investors will compare forecasts for global demand, OPEC+ production, and market balance in the second half of the year. At 15:30 Moscow time, the U.S. will publish the producer price index for April, and at 17:30 Moscow time, the official Department of Energy data on oil inventories.
- Key Economic Events: Eurozone preliminary GDP, IEA and OPEC monthly reports, U.S. PPI, EIA oil inventories.
- Pre-market Reports: Tencent, Alibaba, Deutsche Telekom, E.ON, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Nebius Group, ABN AMRO, Hydro One, Tower Semiconductor, Birkenstock.
- Post-market Reports: Cisco Systems, Manulife Financial, Stantec, CCL Industries, Amdocs, USA Rare Earth.
Wednesday will be one of the most critical days for investors in Chinese stocks and commodity assets. Reports from Tencent and Alibaba will shed light on AI monetization trends, advertising revenue, and e-commerce dynamics in China, while Cisco’s results will serve as an indicator of corporate IT spending.
Thursday, May 14, 2026: U.K. GDP, Lagarde's Speech, First Day of Trump's Visit to China
On Thursday, geopolitical issues and European macro statistics will take center stage. The first day of Donald Trump's visit to China will commence, which the market will assess in light of trade negotiations, future tariff policies, access to technology, and the prospects for bilateral raw materials, agricultural products, and industrial goods procurement. Any statements from the parties could impact Chinese stocks, semiconductor producers, commodity markets, and currencies of emerging economies.
At 09:00 Moscow time, the U.K. will reveal its preliminary GDP estimate for the first quarter. At 12:15 Moscow time, ECB President Christine Lagarde is scheduled to speak, from which the market will await signals regarding the future trajectory of interest rates in the Eurozone. Later, data on initial jobless claims in the U.S., Russia's trade balance for March, and weekly U.S. natural gas inventory data will be released. Trading in Switzerland will be halted.
- Key Economic Events: First day of Trump's visit to China, U.K. GDP, Christine Lagarde's speech, U.S. Initial Jobless Claims, Russia's trade balance, EIA gas inventories.
- Pre-market Reports: Brookfield Corporation, Honda Motor, Viking Holdings, Telefónica, NOVA, United Utilities, AtkinsRéalis, Bullish, Dillard’s, YETI Holdings.
- Post-market Reports: Applied Materials, Nu Holdings, Credicorp, China Gold International Resources, Figma, Cellcuity, Marfrig Global Foods, York Space Systems.
Investors will be particularly interested in Applied Materials’ results as a key supplier of equipment for the semiconductor industry, Nu Holdings’ report as a barometer of digital banking in Latin America, and the publications from Brookfield and Honda that reflect the state of global investment and automotive cycles.
Friday, May 15, 2026: Second Day of Trump's Visit to China, Powell’s Tenure Ends, and Russian Inflation
Friday will amalgamate political, monetary, and macroeconomic risks. The second day of Donald Trump's visit to China will continue, while in the U.S., Jerome Powell's term as Chair of the Federal Reserve will formally expire. Even if markets have partially priced in a change in the Fed's leadership, any announcements regarding his successor and the future course of monetary policy could heighten volatility in bonds, the dollar, and equities.
Early in the morning, Japan will publish its producer price index for April, crucial for assessing inflationary pressures in the country and future decisions by the Bank of Japan. In the U.S., May's Empire State Manufacturing Index and production data for April will be released. At 19:00 Moscow time, Russia will present fresh consumer inflation data, which will be critical for expectations regarding future decisions by the Bank of Russia.
- Key Economic Events: Second day of Trump's visit to China, conclusion of Jerome Powell's term at the Fed, Japan’s PPI, NY Empire State Manufacturing Index, U.S. industrial production, Russia's CPI.
- Pre-market Reports: RBC Bearings, World Kinect, Onex Corporation, Sigma Lithium.
Friday could become a day for reevaluating expectations regarding global monetary policy. For investors in Russian assets, data on inflation will be especially significant, as it could influence expectations surrounding the key rate, bond markets, and the cost of borrowing.
U.S. Earnings Season: Peak Has Passed, but Market Still Dependent on Profit Quality
While the primary peak of the corporate earnings season has passed, the significance of releases during the week of May 11-15 remains high. The market approaches mid-May with strong statistics: 80% of companies that have reported results exceeded analysts' expectations for revenue, while 84% surpassed earnings per share estimates. These figures significantly exceed average levels over the past five and ten years, confirming the resilience of corporate margins even amid high interest rates and sustained inflation.
Key growth drivers for the U.S. market continue to be the big tech companies. The largest technology firms continue to show outpacing profit growth and announce new share buyback programs. Indeed, buybacks, along with robust cash flows and expectations surrounding artificial intelligence, maintain the S&P 500 at historical highs. However, this week the market will closely monitor second-tier companies—from equipment manufacturers to banks, commodity groups, and consumer brands. Their results will provide insight into how broad-based profit growth is beyond the largest technology corporations.
What to Focus on as an Investor During the Week of May 11-15, 2026
- U.S. Inflation. April CPI on Tuesday will be the main release of the week and will determine expectations for the Fed rate in the coming months.
- Oil Market. OPEC, IEA, and DOE reports, as well as inventory data, will help assess demand and supply balance ahead of the summer season.
- U.S.-China Negotiations. Trump's visit to China may influence the trade agenda, technology sector, commodity markets, and the risk appetite of global investors.
- Era Change at the Fed. The conclusion of Jerome Powell’s term could enhance focus on the future independence and policy direction of the regulator.
- Quality of Corporate Profits. After record highs for the S&P 500, investors will be looking closely at not just actual company results but also management's forecasts for the second half of the year.
Overall, the week of May 11-15, 2026, combines multiple factors capable of shifting market expectations: inflation, geopolitics, oil balance, macroeconomic growth, and corporate profits. For investors worldwide, this will be a period where market direction may be dictated not by a singular event but by a combination of signals emanating from the U.S., Europe, China, and the commodity sector.
