Explore the 2020 Geopolitical Calendar

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Last year was a reminder of the interconnection between politics and markets. Many investors use ETFs for an efficient, flexible way to express a market view on a political event. Increasingly, investors are also using ETF options - both to express views and gauge market sentiment ahead of and during political events. With a full year of geopolitical events slated for 2020, consider watching ETF activity to provide insight into market sentiment.

2020 geopolitical calendar

First quarter
Date	Country/Region	Event	Related iShares ETFs
Jan 1	China	Foreign Investment Law takes effect	MCHI	CNYA
Jan 1	U.S.	US-Japan trade agreement takes effect	ITOT	USMV
Jan 1	U.S.	California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) takes effect	ITOT	USMV
Jan 14	U.S. / France	Deadline for public comments on list of $2.4 billion of French imports proposed for U.S. tariffs	EWQ
Jan 21	Japan	Bank of Japan meeting*	EWJ
Jan 23	Euro area	European Central Bank meeting*	EZU
Jan 29	U.S.	Federal Reserve meeting	TLT
Jan 31	UK	Article 50 extension will expire	EWU	HEWU
February	U.S.	Primary races in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina	ITOT
February	Iran	Parliamentary elections	KSA
Feb 16	U.S. / China	Temporary General License for the export of U.S. components and services to a Chinese telecommunications company expires	MCHI	CNYA
March	China	National People's Congress	MCHI	CNYA
Mar 2	Israel	Parliamentary elections	EIS
Mar 3	U.S.	Super Tuesday primary elections	ITOT
Mar 12	Euro area	European Central Bank meeting*	EZU
Mar 18	U.S.	Federal Reserve meeting	TLT
Second quarter
Apr 15	South Korea	Parliamentary elections	EWY
Apr 28	Japan	Bank of Japan meeting*	EWJ
Apr 29	U.S.	Federal Reserve meeting	TLT
Apr 30	Euro area	European Central Bank meeting*	EZU
Jun 4	Euro area	European Central Bank meeting*	EZU
Jun 10	U.S.	Federal Reserve meeting	TLT
Third quarter
July 13-16	U.S.	Democratic National Convention	IVV
Jul 16	Euro area	European Central Bank meeting*	EZU
Jul 22	Japan	Bank of Japan meeting*	EWJ
Jul 29	U.S.	Federal Reserve meeting	TLT
Aug 24-27	U.S.	Republican National Convention	ITOT	USMV
Sep 10	Euro area	European Central Bank meeting*	EZU
Fourth quarter
Sep 15-22	U.S.	UN General Assembly	IVV	TLT
Sep 16	U.S.	Federal Reserve meeting	TLT
Sep 30	U.S.	End of fiscal year	ITOT	USMV
Oct 29	Japan	Bank of Japan meeting*	EWJ
Oct 29	Euro area	European Central Bank meeting*	EZU
Nov 3	U.S.	Presidential and legislative elections	ITOT	USMV
Nov 4	U.S.	U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords	ICLN	CRBN
Nov 5	U.S.	Federal Reserve meeting	TLT
Nov 9-19	U.S.	UN Climate Change Conference	ICLN	CRBN
Nov 21-22	Saudi Arabia	G20 meeting	KSA
Dec 10	Euro area	European Central Bank meeting*	EZU
Dec 16	U.S.	Federal Reserve meeting	TLT
Dec 31	UK	End of Brexit transition period	EWU	HEWU

* European Central Bank meetings shown are those accompanied by press conferences. The Bank of Japan events shown are followed by the publication of the central bank’s outlook report.

Geopolitical developments to watch

Gulf tensions
Brexit / European fragmentation
Russia - NATO conflict

Global trade
U.S. - China competition
Cybersecurity threats

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Geopolitical calendar

2020 geopolitical calendar

Geopolitical developments to watch