U.S. Military Action in Venezuela and Key Economic Data Expected to Influence Markets

According to PANews, the new year begins with global instability as the Caribbean's tranquility is shattered by U.S. military action against Venezuela, reportedly resulting in the capture of President Maduro. A series of U.S. economic data releases are anticipated to cause market fluctuations, with the December non-farm employment report being the most notable. This report marks the first normal month of data collection since the record-breaking government shutdown last year. Key events for the upcoming week include: On Monday at 1:30, Neel Kashkari, the 2026 FOMC voting member and President of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, will speak at the American Economic Association. On Tuesday at 21:00, Thomas Barkin, the 2027 FOMC voting member and President of the Richmond Federal Reserve, will deliver a speech. The 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), dubbed the 'Tech Spring Festival,' is scheduled to take place from January 6-9 in Las Vegas. On Wednesday at 21:15, the U.S. December ADP employment numbers will be released. On Thursday at 20:30, the U.S. December Challenger job cuts report will be published. On Thursday at 21:30, data on initial jobless claims for the week ending January 3 and the October trade balance will be released. On Friday at 0:00, the New York Federal Reserve's one-year inflation expectations for December will be announced. On Friday at 21:30, the U.S. December seasonally adjusted non-farm employment figures and unemployment rate, along with October's annualized new housing starts and building permits, will be released. At 23:00 on Friday, Neel Kashkari will deliver a welcome address and participate in informal discussions at an online meeting hosted by the Minneapolis Federal Reserve. Also at 23:00 on Friday, the preliminary January University of Michigan consumer sentiment index and one-year inflation rate expectations will be published.