Next Week's Macro Outlook: FOMC Minutes to Take Center Stage Amid Low Liquidity

Despite the approaching holiday, gold, silver, and platinum prices continue to hit record highs. Next week, with low liquidity, focus will be on the FOMC meeting minutes and US unemployment claims and manufacturing PMI data. The market should watch for policymakers' inflation concerns and timing of rate cuts.

PANews December 27 News: Despite the holiday season in global markets, gold, silver, and platinum prices have surged to historic highs, continuing the record-breaking rally of precious metals at year-end.

Looking ahead to next week, with New Year's Day approaching, there are virtually no major macroeconomic data releases. Global financial markets will remain in an extremely low liquidity state, with trading volumes expected to be significantly below normal. The true start of the 2026 market may have to wait until the second week of January.

Key points to watch in the upcoming week include: Tuesday 03:00 - Federal Reserve releases monetary policy meeting minutes; Wednesday 21:30 - US initial jobless claims for the week ending December 27; Friday 22:45 - US December S&P Global Manufacturing PMI final. Due to Christmas and New Year’s, no Fed officials will be speaking next week, and the same applies to major central banks. Notably, the Federal Reserve will release the December meeting minutes.

These minutes will be closely scrutinized, as investors seek any clues about the timing of the next rate cut and gauge how concerned policymakers are about inflation, especially those voting to hold rates steady.

Choosing a consensus candidate for the highly divided Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is crucial. However, regardless of whom Trump chooses, the new Fed Chair is almost certain to be more dovish than Powell. Therefore, this announcement may pose relatively low risk to the markets.