In the coming week, investors will be awaiting preliminary data from the euro zone and Japan on first quarter economic growth, as well as the ZEW report on German economic sentiment. The US is to release official data on retail sales, building permits, jobless claims and a closely watched report on consumer sentiment.
Monday, May 13
Australia is to release official data on home loans and private sector data on business confidence. China is to publish government data on fixed asset investment, industrial production and retail sales. Switzerland is to produce official data on retail sales. In the euro zone, Italy is to hold an auction of 10-year government bonds, while the eurogroup of finance ministers are to hold talks in Brussels. Later in the day, the US is to release official data on retail sales and business inventories.
Tuesday, May 14
New Zealand is to release official data on retail sales. Elsewhere, Australia’s government is to unveil the annual budget statement. The ZEW Institute is to release its closely watched report on German economic sentiment, a leading indicator of economic health. The euro zone is to release official data on industrial production. Meanwhile, the euro zone’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council is to hold talks in Brussels. The US is to publish official data on import prices.
Wednesday, May 15
Japan is to release official data on tertiary industry activity. Australia is to publish government data on new vehicle sales and wage price inflation. The euro zone is to release preliminary data on first quarter gross domestic product, the broadest indicator of economic activity and the leading measure of the economy’s health. Germany, France and Italy are to release individual data on first quarter growth. Switzerland is to produce official data on producer price inflation, a leading indicator of consumer inflation, as well as data on ZEW economic expectations. The UK is to release government data on the change in the number of people employed and the unemployment rate, a leading economic indicator. The Bank of England is to release its quarterly inflation report. BoE Governor Mervyn King is to speak at a press conference following the release of the report. Canada is to produce official data on manufacturing sales, a leading economic indicator. The US is to release data on producer price inflation, industrial production, the capacity utilization rate and a report on manufacturing activity in New York State.
Thursday, May 16
Japan is to release preliminary data on first quarter economic growth, the broadest indicator of economic activity and the leading measure of the economy’s health. New Zealand’s government is to unveil its annual budget statement and the country is also to release data on manufacturing activity. The euro zone is to produce official data on consumer price inflation, which accounts for the majority of overall inflation, as well as data on the trade balance. France is to publish preliminary data on nonfarm payrolls. Canada is to release official data on foreign securities purchases, while the Bank of Canada is to publish its quarterly review. The US is to produce official data on building permits, the leading indicator of future construction activity as well as data on housing starts. The US is also to release official data on consumer inflation, initial jobless claims and the Philly Fed manufacturing index.
Friday, May 17
New Zealand is to release official data on producer price inflation. Japan is to produce official data on core machinery orders, a leading indicator of production. Canada is to publish government data on consumer inflation and wholesale sales, a leading indicator of consumer spending. The US is to round up the week with preliminary data from the University of Michigan on consumer sentiment and inflation expectations.