Next week’s blockbuster schedule: Major conferences + Super Central Bank Week + Super Earnings Week! U.S. and Japanese central bank decisions, intensive MAG7 earnings releases.

Next week’s blockbuster schedule: Major conferences + Super Central Bank Week + Super Earnings Week! U.S. and Japanese central bank decisions, intensive MAG7 earnings releases.

```

Overview of Major Financial Events for the Week of April 27th - May 3rd, all times are Beijing Time:

Mainline events for next week:

Super Central Bank Week. The Fed (April 29), Bank of Japan (April 28), Bank of England and European Central Bank (April 30), and Bank of Canada (April 29) will announce their interest rate decisions one after another. The market generally expects the five major central banks to remain unchanged, but the Bank of Japan may release a hawkish signal for possible rate hikes in June due to Middle East conflict and inflationary pressure, making it the major focus. JP Morgan predicts the Fed will hold rates steady throughout 2026, with the next adjustment possibly being a rate hike in Q3 2027.

Super Earnings Week. MAG7 members Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta will concentrate their quarterly reports; storage giants Samsung Electronics, Western Digital, Seagate Technology, and SanDisk will simultaneously announce results. In China, leaders like BYD, Foxconn Industrial Internet, Cambricon, Sinopec, China Merchants Bank, and others will release Q1 reports.

Note that April 30 will be the most significant day next week.Central bank decisions and major earnings will be concentrated on this day.There may also be an important domestic meeting—the Politburo meeting at the end of April.

Data and events are intensive.U.S. March PCE (the Fed's favorite inflation indicator) and Q1 GDP will be announced on April 30; China’s official April Manufacturing PMI and March Industrial Enterprise Profits will be released. Additionally, the first Berkshire shareholder meeting after Buffett’s retirement (May 2), A-share May Day holiday (May 1-5), Alibaba HappyHorse open testing and other events are also noteworthy.

Economic Indicators

  • U.S., Japan, Europe, U.K., Canada: Five Major Central Bank Rate Decisions

Next week, major central banks worldwide including the U.S., Japan, Europe, U.K., and Canada will announce rate decisions. Under Middle East energy shocks and rising global uncertainty, markets generally expect all five central banks to stand pat.

April 28: Bank of Japan rate decision takes the lead, widely expected to keep short-term policy rate at 0.75%, Governor Kazuo Ueda will hold a press conference on the 28th. Analysts say although rates will likely stay unchanged, the BoJ may release a hawkish signal for a June rate hike in its quarterly report due to Middle East conflicts and inflation pressure.Fed: FOMC rate decision to be announced April 29 (Eastern Time), Chair Powell will hold a press conference afterwards. Market expects the Fed to keep rates at the 3.5%-3.75% target range. JP Morgan predicts the Fed will stand pat throughout 2026; next adjustment could be a 25-bps hike in Q3 2027. Economist Michael Feroli says despite the Middle East conflict driving energy prices higher, March Core CPI rose just 0.2% m/m, showing underlying inflation remains controlled; meanwhile, March nonfarm payrolls increased by 178,000, and unemployment fell to 4.3%.Bank of Canada will announce its decision on April 29, expected to keep rates at 2.25% unchanged.European Central Bank and Bank of England will announce rate decisions April 30, alongside quarterly monetary policy reports, Lagarde and Bailey will hold press conferences respectively. Bloomberg expects both banks to keep rates unchanged.Additionally, Bank of Thailand and Central Bank of Brazil will announce rate decisions.
  • U.S. PCE

April 30: The U.S. will release March PCE inflation data. Influenced by the Middle East conflict driving energy prices higher, overall PCE YoY is expected to rise slightly, but core PCE remains relatively moderate. This data comes right after the Fed’s April 28-29 meeting, with significant signaling impact.

  • China April Official Manufacturing PMI

April 30: China's official manufacturing PMI for April will be released, with focus on whether manufacturing activity continues to recover. Previous March PMI was 50.4%, up 1.4 points from February, back above the prosperity threshold. April 27: March industrial enterprise profit data will also be released.

Financial Events

  • End of April: Possible Politburo Meeting

Domestic Politburo meetings are usually held at the end of April. Bohai Securities believes the April Politburo meeting and Q1 economic data may become the core of upcoming macro narratives. West China Securities suggests that A-shares should focus on the Politburo meeting at the end of April and high business sentiment in corporate earnings reports.

  • Post-Buffett Era: First Berkshire Shareholder Meeting

Berkshire Hathaway’s 2026 Annual Shareholder Meeting will be held from 8:00 pm May 2 to 3:00 am May 3 (Beijing Time), the first after Buffett’s retirement as CEO, now led by new CEO Greg Abel.

  • Continue Close Monitoring of Iran Situation

Continue to closely monitor developments in Iran. According to CCTV News, Trump canceled the U.S. delegation to Bahrain and said "call if you want to talk", while Iran stated "if the U.S. softens its stance, a second round of negotiations may be held in coming days".

  • Iran Announces National Power Demonstration Parade on April 29

According to CCTV News, Iran announced in the early hours of April 22 local time that it will hold a national parade demonstrating power at 3 pm on April 29.

  • A-share May Day Holiday: Market Closed May 1–5

Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges notified that markets will be closed from Friday, May 1 to Tuesday, May 5, for the 2026 Labor Day holiday; trading resumes Wednesday, May 6. May 9 (Saturday) will also be closed as a weekend.

  • 18 Movies Scheduled for May Day: "Cold War 1994", "10 Brave Platoons", "The Devil Wears Prada 2", etc.

Over 18 movies are scheduled for the 2026 May Day period, covering action, comedy, suspense, drama, animation, etc. Key films include Chen Sicheng's drama "10 Brave Platoons", sequel "The Devil Wears Prada 2", highly-anticipated Chaoshan dialect film "A Letter to Grandma", cop action film "Cold War 1994" and animations like "Red Boy, King of Flame Mountain".

  • Alibaba HappyHorse Open Testing; Official Commercial Release in May

Wallstreetcn reports HappyHorse-1.0 will open gradual API testing for enterprise customers via Alibaba Cloud Bailian platform starting April 27. After open testing at end-April, HappyHorse-1.0 will be officially released for commercial use in May.

  • Microsoft Agent 365 (International) to be Released

According to Microsoft AI Tour annual event, Microsoft Agent 365 (International) and Microsoft 365 E7 (International) will be released on May 1. Since Ignite 2025 preview, tens of thousands of clients have adopted Agent 365 for deploying and scaling AI agents in enterprises.

  • Google to Raise Prices for Cloud, CDN, AI Infrastructure Services

According to an official Google Cloud announcement, the company will raise prices for Google Cloud, CDN, Peering, AI infrastructure services starting May 1, 2026. CDN rates: North America from $0.04/GB to $0.08; Europe from $0.05/GB to $0.08; Asia from $0.06/GB to $0.085.

  • Jiejie Microelectronics, Invt, Huifeng Diamond Price Increases:
  1. Jiejie Microelectronics: IGBT finished product prices to rise 10%-20% from May 1
  2. Invt: From May 1, some industrial automation product prices to increase, maximum 15%
  3. Huifeng Diamond: From May 1, 8%-12% structural price increase for industrial diamond series products
  • China to Fully Implement Zero Tariffs for 100% of African Products Starting May 1

According to CCTV News, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated China will fully implement zero tariffs for 100% of African products starting May 1. Driven by China’s high-level opening-up, tariff “subtraction” will promote trade “addition” and achieve livelihood “multiplication”, offering more opportunities in China’s large market for Africa.

  • 9th Digital China Construction Summit Opens

The 9th Digital China Construction Summit will be held April 29-30 in Fuzhou, Fujian.

  • Guangdong Artificial Intelligence Application Matchmaking Conference

April 27: Guangdong Artificial Intelligence Application Matchmaking Conference will be held, for one day in a "1+5" format: morning plenary plus five themed matchmaking sessions in the afternoon. The main venue is in Shenzhen.

Earnings Reports

  • MAG7, Storage Giants & Domestic Industry Leaders Earnings

Earnings season peaks next week: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta (MAG7 core members) will release quarterly reports; storage giants Samsung Electronics, Western Digital, Seagate Technology, and SanDisk will also announce results. In China, Foxconn Industrial Internet, BYD, Cambricon, Muxi, Seres, Sinopec, China Merchants Bank, and other leaders will release Q1 reports.

  • Earnings Call Times

Samsung Electronics will hold its Q1 earnings call on April 30. Korea Standard Time April 30, 10:00 a.m.; Beijing Time: April 30, 9:00 a.m.

Google will hold its quarterly earnings call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, April 29 (4:30 a.m. Beijing Time, Thursday, April 30), discussing Q1 2026 financial results.

Apple Inc. will hold its Q2 earnings and business update call on Thursday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Corresponding Beijing Time:5:00 a.m., Friday, May 1, 2026.

Meta Q1 2026 earnings call: April 29, 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time; Beijing Time: 5:30 a.m., Thursday, April 30.

Microsoft FY2026 Q3 earnings call: April 29, 2:30 p.m. (Pacific Time), Beijing Time:5:30 a.m., April 30, 2026.

Amazon will hold its Q1 2026 earnings call at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time, Wednesday, April 29. Corresponding Beijing Time: 5:30 a.m., Thursday, April 30.

Risk Warning and Disclaimer ClauseThe market carries risks. Investment requires caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account individual users’ special investment goals, financial situations, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article fit their particular circumstances. Investment based on this information is at your own risk. ```