Today, Wednesday, expect extreme volatility with the Fed's Interest Rate Decision and Monetary Policy Statement at 2:00 PM EST, followed by the FOMC Press Conference at 2:30 PM EST; markets will scrutinize any shifts in forward guidance. Friday brings critical inflation data with the Producer Price Index ex Food & Energy (YoY) at 8:30 AM EST. Next Monday, ISM Manufacturing PMI at 10:00 AM EST will gauge economic health, preceding next Wednesday's ADP Employment Change at 8:15 AM EST, a key jobs report ahead of NFP.
Traders should prepare for significant price action around today's Fed announcements, particularly the Powell presser. Inflation data on Friday and employment figures next Wednesday will heavily influence rate hike expectations and market sentiment, dictating short-term directional biases.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.