FOMC minutes, oil inventories take center stage on Wednesday

As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets, Wednesday, August 20, 2025, brings a series of crucial decisions and economic data releases that could sway market dynamics. The spotlight falls on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting Minutes and the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Crude Oil Inventories report, both of which have the potential to significantly impact market sentiment and asset prices.

Major Economic Events to Watch:

• 10:30 AM ET - EIA Crude Oil Inventories: Previous 3.036M. Weekly change in commercial crude oil barrels held by US firms, influencing petroleum prices and inflation.

• 2:00 PM ET - FOMC Meeting Minutes: Detailed record of the committee’s policy-setting meeting, offering insights into monetary policy stance and future interest rate decisions.

Other Important Economic Events to Watch:

• 10:30 AM ET - EIA Weekly Cushing Oil Inventories: Previous 0.045M. Change in crude oil barrels stored at Cushing, Oklahoma, a key delivery point for US crude oil benchmark.

• 11:00 AM ET - Fed Waller Speaks: Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller’s public remarks on economic outlook and monetary policy.

• 1:00 PM ET - 20-Year Bond Auction: Previous 4.935%. Treasury bond auction results indicate government borrowing costs and investor demand.

• 3:00 PM ET - FOMC Member Bostic Speaks: Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic’s comments on economic conditions and policy outlook.

• 8:00 PM ET - Jackson Hole Symposium: Annual economic policy symposium attended by central bankers and financial experts, potentially moving markets.

Other Economic Events to Watch:

• 7:00 AM ET - MBA 30-Year Mortgage Rate: Previous 6.67%. Average fixed 30-year mortgage lending rate.

• 7:00 AM ET - MBA Mortgage Applications: Previous 10.9%. Weekly change in new mortgage applications.

• 7:00 AM ET - MBA Purchase Index: Previous 160.2. Indicator of impending home sales.

• 7:00 AM ET - Mortgage Market Index: Previous 281.1. Covers all mortgage applications during the week.

• 7:00 AM ET - Mortgage Refinance Index: Previous 956.2. Gauge of mortgage refinancing activity.

• 10:30 AM ET - Gasoline Inventories: Previous -0.792M. Change in commercial gasoline inventory levels.

• 10:30 AM ET - EIA Weekly Heatoil Stock: Previous 0.827M. Weekly change in heating oil inventories.

• 10:30 AM ET - EIA Refinery Crude Runs: Previous 0.056M. Amount of crude processed by refineries.

• 10:30 AM ET - EIA Weekly Distillate Fuel Production: Previous 0.032M. Weekly production of distillate fuels.

• 10:30 AM ET - EIA Weekly Refinery Utilization Rates: Previous -0.5%. Percentage of operable refinery capacity in use.

• 10:30 AM ET - EIA Weekly Crude Imports: Previous 0.699M. Weekly change in crude oil imports.

• 10:30 AM ET - EIA Weekly Gasoline Production: Previous 0.010M. Weekly production of gasoline.

• 10:30 AM ET - EIA Weekly Distillates Stocks: Previous 0.714M. Inventory levels of distillate fuels.

For further information and the latest updates, please refer to our Economic Calendar, here.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.