begins Markets Today On September 23, 2026, a relatively busy economic calendar is led by Australian labor market data and the Swiss rate decision, before attention shifts to PMIs in France, Germany, and the UK. In the crypto market, movements show positive changes within 24 hours, but at varying rates, indicating that upside strength is not uniform across instruments.
All calendar times below are in UTC. The data do not include prices or changes for forex pairs, stocks, or commodities, so actual performance evaluation is limited to the mentioned cryptocurrencies, with an assessment of the potential impact of events on major currencies.
Market Calendar: today’s highest-impact events
Key moments begin at 01:30 UTC With Australian employment data:
- Change in employment: Expected 22.5K versus previous reading of -15.8K.
- Unemployment rate: Expected 4.5%, unchanged from the previous 4.5%.
Forecasts point to a recovery in employment compared with the prior negative reading, while unemployment is expected to stabilize. If job gains come in better than expected and the unemployment rate remains steady or improves, the Australian dollar may receive support. This scenario is negated if a weaker-than-expected jobs reading coincides with weaker inflation data.
when 07:30 UTC Focus shifts to the Swiss National Bank with two high-impact events:
- Swiss interest rate decision: Expected 0.00% vs 0.00% previously.
- Assessment of the Swiss National Bank's monetary policy: No expected or disclosed previous reading available.
Interest rates are expected to stay stable, so the Swiss franc may respond more to how policymakers assess monetary policy. A tougher tone could provide some support for the franc, but this scenario collapses if the central bank focuses on economic risks or uses a more flexible language. Simply fixing rates may not be enough to determine a sustainable direction if the assessment does not carry new signals.
Indicator activity in France and Germany
France data releases at 07:15 UTC With a moving average influence:
- Manufacturing PMI for the industrial sector expected at 50.9 vs 51.5 previously.
- The Services PMI for the initial reading expected at 48.3 vs 48.4 previously.
The forecasts indicate a retreat in the indicators compared with prior readings, although the expected change in services is limited. Higher-than-expected results in both sectors could help the euro, but this possibility weakens if one reading is strong and the other disappointing, as mixed signals may prevent the market from forming a clear trend. The positive scenario is more clearly invalidated if both readings come in below expectations.
Next, Germany data is released at 07:30 UTC:
- The initial PMI is expected at 54.1, in line with the previous reading 54.1.
- The services PMI is expected at 49.9 vs 48.5 previously.
The market awaits industry stability and improved services compared to before. If services outperform expectations while the industry remains intact, the outlook for German activity could improve and the euro could benefit accordingly. This scenario negates a decline in the industry or failure of services to meet expected improvement. It is also important to compare Germany’s data with France’s results, as the clear difference between them could make the euro’s reaction more volatile rather than one-directional.
Britain and the pound sterling test
when 08:30 UTC PMI indicators released, both with moderate impact.
- Industrial index expected at 51.5, unchanged from previous 51.5.
- Services PMI expected at 52.0 versus 52.8 previously.
The outlook does not imply a change in the sector, but assumes a slowdown in services. Since the two readings are released at the same time, the pound may respond to the overall picture rather than focusing on a single figure. A surprise to both indicators could support the currency, while this scenario would negate a clear weakness in services or an underperforming sector. Divergent results could lead to a quick initial move followed by hesitation.
Performance of cryptocurrencies over 24 hours
The digital instruments listed in the data have shown varying highs:
- Ripple: 1.6326, elevated by 3.81%.
- Solana: 119.09, high 0.44%.
- Bitcoin: 86501.51, high 0.34%.
- Ethereum: 2757.29, high 0.13%.
Ripple leads performance by a clear margin, while Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana move with more modest gains. This picture means the trend over the referenced period is positive but not balanced. Ongoing positive performance may continue if the instruments maintain their gains; this scenario is invalidated if movements turn negative or the coins lose their current price levels. 24-hour gains alone aren’t enough to judge a longer-term trend.
What should traders pay attention to?
It is advisable to monitor the sequence of events rather than treating each reading in isolation. Sensitivity begins with the Australian dollar, then moves to the Swiss franc and the euro before UK data. The move may widen at the time of the release if results deviate from expectations, while the reaction may be limited if they align with expectations.
Also note that data on France and Germany and the Swiss rate decision are temporally close, which may accelerate moves in European currencies. No accompanying data on the performance of the forex pairs themselves is available, so reliable support or resistance levels cannot be determined from the current information.
In the end, the session combines monetary policy decisions, employment data, and activity indicators, while cryptocurrencies start from a positive base. The best approach is to wait for the actual outcome and compare it with expectations and the prior reading, with a clear point to invalidate each scenario. This content is market analysis, not financial advice.
Key points
- Australian jobs data and Swiss rate decision are the two high-impact events on the calendar.
- France, Germany, and Britain indicators may move the euro and pound based on the difference between actual results and expectations.
- Ripple leads gains among cryptocurrencies over 24 hours, while Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana rise by smaller amounts.
