Economic and Event Calendar: Asia, February 16, 2026
Market Highlights and Calendar Events:
Chinese Markets: The Chinese mainland markets are closed today, February 16, 2026. Hong Kong and Singapore have half-day trading sessions, with more details provided below.
House Price Data: China's house price data for the month is due today, but it was already published last week. The January figures showed a decline of 3.1% year-over-year and 0.4% month-over-month.
Japanese Economic Growth: The focus shifts to Japan's economic growth, with the fourth-quarter GDP expected to expand by 0.4% quarter-over-quarter, boosting annual growth to 1.6%. Analysts attribute this to a recovery in construction activity and stronger export performance due to global demand for semiconductors.
See AlsoHow China's $112 Billion Cargo Gap Exposes Record U.S. Tariff Evasion | Trade Wars ExplainedChina's Private Sector: A New Era of Encouragement and ControlUS Debt Crisis: Treasury Debt-to-GDP Ratio Hits 122% in Q4Japan Avoids Recession: Q4 Growth Misses Expectations, But Economy Shows ResilienceTrade Figures: January trade data indicates sustained momentum in chip exports. However, favorable calendar effects and a low comparison base might distort the headline export growth rates.
Fiscal Spending Impact: The boost from additional fiscal spending is anticipated to be more evident in the first quarter of 2026 rather than in the fourth-quarter data. Tensions between China and Japan are unlikely to have significantly impacted Q4 results.
Political and Semiconductor Demand: Steady political conditions and resilient semiconductor demand are seen as key factors supporting manufacturing output and services activity.
Lunar New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse):
Date: Falls on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Market Closures:
- Mainland China markets: Closed from February 16 to 23, reopening on February 24.
- Hong Kong: Half-day trading on February 16, closed from February 17 to 19, and resumes trading on February 20.
- Singapore (SGX): Half-day trading on February 16, closed on February 17 and 18.
Spring Festival Holiday: China observes an extended nine-day Spring Festival holiday from February 15 to 23, with officials expecting a record travel surge, which could boost consumption narratives despite thin liquidity.
Impact on Trading and Price Discovery:
Onshore China: The equity market experiences its most significant scheduled trading interruption of the year, with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange closed from February 16 to 23 and the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) closed from February 16 to 23. This leads to a shift in price discovery offshore (CNH, H-shares, ADRs, commodities proxies) and potential rapid repricing when domestic trading resumes.
Offshore China (HKEX): Hong Kong becomes the regional hub for China beta during the A-share closure, with half-day trading on February 16 and full market holidays from February 17 to 19. Expect thinner market depth, wider spreads, and heightened sensitivity to CN headlines.
Singapore (SGX): Disrupted liquidity is expected, with lighter positioning, volatile jumps in volatility due to small flows, and potential 'reopen gaps' in markets, especially if FX or commodities move significantly while China is closed.
