If you thought 2016 was full of market maelstroms and geopolitical gotchas, 2017’s ‘known unknowns’ suggest a year of more mayhem awaits…
Here’s a selection of key events in the year ahead (and links to Bloomberg’s quick-takes on each).
JanuaryDonald Trump will be sworn in as U.S. president on Jan. 20. The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17-20. Davos, Switzerland. Finland begins a test of a universal basic income by offering 2,000 unemployed adults 560 euros a month. U.S. companies will be required to disclose pay ratios comparing the compensation of their CEO to the median pay of employees, in the year starting Jan. 1. Cigarette plain-packaging law comes into effect in France. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision aims to complete an overhaul of capital standards by Jan. 8. France is gathering dozens of foreign ministers in Paris Jan. 15 to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
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FebruaryJudges may rule as early as February in a U.S. patent dispute determining who invented the gene-editing technique known as Crispr-Cas9. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen gives the first of her twice-yearly reports to Congress. Intercontinental Exchange Inc., which runs the daily London gold auction, will start trading a futures contract for the metal in the U.S., part of a battle for control of the world gold market. The number of influenza cases typically peaks this month in the U.S. MarchChemChina aims to complete its $43 billion purchase of Syngenta, a record acquisition by a Chinese company, by the end of the first quarter. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May plans to trigger the legal process for Britain’s exit from the European Union, starting a two-year countdown for Brexit. Hong Kong’s Election Committee chooses the city’s next chief executive. SpaceX plans to launch the Falcon Heavy, the most powerful rocket since the Saturn V moon rocket program ended in 1973. Launch of an earlier Falcon SpaceX rocket. A general election in the Netherlands will be held March 15. Samsung is expected to unveil its Galaxy S8 smartphone. India Post is expected to start operations of its postal banking system. |
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AprilThe European Central Bank is scheduled to begin scaling back its quantitative easing program, reducing monthly bond buying to 60 billion euros. The French presidential election’s first round is April 23, with the second and final round two weeks later. India will introduce its first national sales tax. Golf’s Masters Tournament takes place April 6-9 in Augusta, Georgia. MayG-7 meets in Sicily. First meeting for U.S. President Trump. Iran’s presidential election is May 19. Pope Francis visits Fatima, Portugal, May 13 for the 100th anniversary of the day on which three children said the Virgin Mary first appeared to them. The Eurovision song contest will be held in Kiev after Ukraine’s Susana Jamaladinova, who uses the stage name Jamala, won the contest in 2016. Ukraine’s Jamala reacts on winning the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. College graduates say farewell to school and, in the U.S., hello to an average of more than $30,000 in debt. |
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JuneDeadline for South Korea’s constitutional court to rule whether to remove President Park Geun-hye from power, triggering a presidential election within 60 days. Roaming charges for mobile phones will be abolished in the European Union on June 15. The U.S. Federal Reserve typically releases results of its annual bank stress tests. The 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War. The Confederations Cup, a practice run for hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup, is held June 17 to July 2 in Russia. Spotify plans to sell shares in an initial public offering by mid-year. JulyCanada Day, July 1, marks 150 years since the British colonies were federally united into the Dominion of Canada. The Group of 20 nations meets in Hamburg, July 7-8. U.S. banks face a July 21 deadline for divesting their investments in private equity and hedge funds. |
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AugustKenya holds an election Aug. 8. The Perseid meteor shower will peak Aug. 12 or 13. Earliest date possible for the German federal election is Aug. 27. In recent years, elections have taken place in September. SeptemberRussia will hold its annual strategic military exercises in its western regions. Russian officers march during the Victory Day military parade. Catalonia’s regional president, Carles Puigdemont, has vowed to hold a referendum this month on splitting from Spain. Bloomberg will open its new European headquarters in London before the end of the year. The site includes a museum for the archaeological remains of a temple dedicated to the Roman god Mithras. London trial opens for six traders accused of manipulating Euribor. Norway will hold a parliamentary election Sept. 11. Apple typically unveils new technologies for its iPhones in September. U.S. meat producer Tyson Foods pledged to end the use of antibiotics in its chickens this month. |
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OctoberNobel Peace Prize is announced. Colombia’s president won in 2016. Annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, Oct. 13-15. Chinese President Xi Jinping may narrow the field of potential successors at the party congress, expected in October or November. NovemberIf the U.S. Affordable Care Act is still in place, its open enrollment period will run from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31, 2018. China celebrates Singles’ Day Nov. 11. It’s the largest online shopping day.
Singles’ Day is a Chinese annual online shopping spree that has been held every Nov. 11 since 2009. New Zealand’s general election must be held by Nov. 18. Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meet in Vietnam. |
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DecemberDeadline to hold South Korean presidential election is Dec. 20. South Africa’s ruling African National Congress will choose a new leader at its party conference to replace President Jacob Zuma. Thailand’s junta promises that a new, elected government will be able to assume power this month. A loophole that’s allowed U.S. hedge fund managers to avoid taxes on performance fees parked offshore expires Dec. 31. New Year’s Eve brings the usual resolutions to lose weight. |
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