The first half of 2024 was eventful, with significant developments impacting global markets. The Federal Reserve delayed rate cut expectations, AI reached a pivotal moment with NVIDIA reporting a 265% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenues, and markets adjusted rate expectations amid rising US inflation.
Other notable events included the Swiss National Bank surprising markets with a rate cut, the Bank of Japan ending eight years of negative rates, and global stocks experiencing their best quarterly gain since 2019.
Meanwhile, sticky US inflation impacted stocks and bonds, and the S&P 500 hit a record high as inflation began to slow. With such a dynamic first half of the year, investors should keep an eye on the following key dates in the second half of 2024:
July
- 4 July: UK General Election
- 7 July: Second round of French Legislative Election
- US second-quarter earnings season kickoff
August
- 1 August: BoE meeting
- 15 August: NVIDIA second quarter earnings
September
- 12 September: ECB meeting
- 18 September: Fed meeting
- 26 September: SNB meeting
October
- US third-quarter earnings season kickoff
November
- 5 November: US Presidential Election
- 14 November: NVIDIA third quarter earnings
December
- 12 December: ECB meeting
- 18 December: Fed meeting
- 19 December: BoE meeting