New Year’s Holiday, Jobless Claims, Pending Home Sales, Fed Minutes

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Jobless claims, Fed meeting minutes and pending home sales data will highlight another holiday-shortened week as traders get a day off for the New Year’s Day holiday on Thursday. While bond markets will close early at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, stock markets are operating a normal schedule on New Year’s Eve.

The first session of 2026 is on Friday, following a year where stocks turned around an April swoon to set major indexes on a path to close higher by double digits. History shows that strong trading in December and January can set the tone for investors; analysts expect another roller-coaster year for stocks is in store. 

Read on for our calendar of key events this week—and one more thing.

Fed Minutes Come as Investors Eye Weekly Jobless Claims, Home Sales Data

There are no significant corporate earnings on tap for this week, though investors may watch for the release of a few economic indicators and other reports.

On Tuesday, the minutes for the December meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will provide insight into how Fed members view the trajectory of the economy ahead of its next meeting in late January. The weekly jobless claims report, due Wednesday, will shine a light on the labor market as the Fed keeps a close eye on jobs as it considers its next move on interest rates. The U.S. economy likely lost an average of 20,000 jobs per month between April and September.

Pending home sales for November is due Monday, giving a look at future sales levels in a housing market struggling with affordability. But the S&P Case-Shiller home price index, due the following day, arrives as home price growth slows as buyers show signs of reaching their limits.

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This Week’s Calendar

Monday, Dec. 29

• Pending home sales (November)

Tuesday, Dec. 30

• S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (October)
• Chicago Business Barometer (December)
• December FOMC meeting minutes

Wednesday, Dec. 31

• Initial jobless claims (Week ending Dec. 27)
• U.S. bond markets close at 2 p.m. ET

Thursday, Jan. 1

Friday, Jan. 2

One More Thing

Twenty-two states will raise their minimum wage this year, with 19 of them set to make the change on New Year’s Day. Investopedia’s Sabrina Karl has more on where the minimum wage is going up this year—and where it isn’t.