This week’s financial calendar highlights flash PMI and central banks, two blocks of releases following one another over two days. On September 23, 2026, S&P Global releases five flash PMI indices across Europe and the United States, one week after the US Federal Reserve’s decision, so the market already has a known monetary framework before reading these activity releases. On Thursday, September 24, three European central banks also announce their rate decisions on the same day. This article therefore complements the one from September 22, which covered the energy shock and the already known Fed and ECB decisions. Here we detail what we already know, today’s releases, and what to expect tomorrow.
Market context ahead of this week’s flash PMI and central banks agenda
On September 16, 2026, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the federal funds rate target range by a quarter point, to between 3-3/4 and 4 percent. The official statement reads: “The Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/4 percentage point to 3-3/4 to 4 percent, in support of the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate.” The same text also notes that inflation remains elevated: “Inflation remains elevated. Today’s policy action will support a timelier return to the Committee’s 2 percent goal.” Source: FOMC statement, September 16, 2026 (PDF). This document does not specify anything about the rate path beyond this meeting: it documents a decision already taken, not a future timetable.
Wednesday, September 23: flash PMI releases in Europe and the United States
S&P Global is releasing its September flash PMI indices today for five major economic zones. The provider’s official calendar lists the following times, in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC): “07:15 UTC S&P Global Flash France PMI 07:30 UTC S&P Global Flash Germany PMI 08:00 UTC S&P Global Flash Eurozone PMI 08:30 UTC S&P Global Flash UK PMI 13:45 UTC S&P Global Flash US PMI”. Source: S&P Global PMI calendar.
| Zone | UTC time | Approximate local time |
|---|---|---|
| France | 07:15 | 09:15, Paris time (UTC+2) |
| Germany | 07:30 | 09:30, Berlin time (UTC+2) |
| Eurozone | 08:00 | 10:00, Brussels time (UTC+2) |
| United Kingdom | 08:30 | 09:30, London time (UTC+1) |
| United States | 13:45 | 09:45, New York time (UTC-4) |
As we write this article, after 15:30 UTC, all five releases scheduled for this Wednesday have therefore already come out, the last one, the United States, having occurred at 13:45 UTC. These flash PMI indices, which measure private-sector activity through a survey, can therefore influence markets once traders see the results. S&P Global’s official calendar, our source for this section, does not however report any figures or results: it only documents the dates and times of publication, not their content. This article therefore presents the agenda of these events and their potential implications for traders, without reproducing the raw index figures, since our sources do not include them. This data therefore covers only the announced schedule, not the values actually published.
Thursday, September 24: key decisions from European central banks after the flash PMIs
The following day, Thursday, September 24, three European monetary institutions publish their monetary policy decision on the same day. Markets are therefore paying particular attention to these announcements.
Norges Bank: the Norwegian central bank’s rate decision
Norges Bank announces its policy rate decision and its Monetary Policy Report at 10:00, Oslo time, on Thursday, September 24; a press conference follows at 10:30. The official calendar states: “Announcement of the policy rate decision and publication of Monetary Policy Report. Thursday 24 September 2026 10:00 […] A press conference following the announcement will be held at 10.30 am.” Source: Norges Bank calendar.
Riksbank: the Swedish central bank’s rate decision
Sweden’s Riksbank first holds its monetary policy meeting on Wednesday, September 23 at 9:00, Stockholm time. The following day, it publishes its decision and Monetary Policy Report on Thursday, September 24 at 9:30, ahead of a press conference at 10:30. The official calendar specifies: “23 Sept 2026 Monetary policy meeting: Decision on monetary policy including the policy rate Wed 09:00 […] 24 Sept 2026 Publication of monetary policy decision, including the policy rate, and the Monetary Policy Report Thu 09:30 […] 24 Sept 2026 Press conference on the September monetary policy decision Thu 10:30”. Source: Riksbank calendar.
Swiss National Bank: the SNB’s rate decision
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) also publishes its monetary policy assessment on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The SNB’s official calendar lists two events on this date, Zurich time (UTC+2): the press release at 9:30, then introductory remarks at the press conference at 10:00. The official calendar states: “24.09.2026 09:30 Monetary policy assessment of 24 September 2026 (press release) […] 24.09.2026 10:00 Monetary policy assessment of 24 September 2026 (introductory remarks, news conference)”. Source: SNB event schedule. This source, however, covers only the date and time of the two publications the SNB itself announced; it does not communicate any expected rate level.
| Central bank | Decision release | Press conference |
|---|---|---|
| Norges Bank (Norway) | 10:00, Oslo time | 10:30, Oslo time |
| Riksbank (Sweden) | 9:30, Stockholm time | 10:30, Stockholm time |
| Swiss National Bank | 9:30, Zurich time (press release) | 10:00, Zurich time (introductory remarks) |
Sweden and Switzerland share the same summer time zone (UTC+2), so the Riksbank publishes its decision at 9:30 Stockholm time, at the same moment as the SNB’s press release, at 9:30 Zurich time. Norway, for its part, announces its decision later in the morning, at 10:00 Oslo time. The official calendars do not however communicate any expected rate level or numerical projection for these meetings. This agenda therefore documents the timing of the releases, not their content, which is not yet available at the time of writing. These announcements can therefore generate increased volatility in the markets.
What this flash PMI and central banks agenda does not yet reveal
At this stage, we already know Wednesday, September 23’s PMI index releases. This article has presented their schedule, as well as that of Thursday’s three central bank decisions, which remain, however, still to come. Writing a figure or a trend for the latter would therefore am ount to presenting a hypothesis as an established fact. We know with certainty the timings themselves and the US decision of September 16, already published. Thursday’s decisions, on the other hand, still belong to the agenda, not to a fact already realized.
If you are following these events on a funded trading challenge, the best preparation therefore remains risk management, organized around time slots known in advance rather than through predicting market direction. The mechanics of a prop firm challenge, such as a 1 Step Challenge, indeed rely on a profit target and a loss limit set before purchase and known to the trader from day one. Money management rules therefore apply the same way on a PMI release day as on an ordinary day. This concerns simulated capital and rewards according to the rules applicable to the chosen program. Discipline and risk management thus remain essential for approaching the flash PMI and central banks agenda with confidence.