In the week ahead investors will be focusing on the outcome of a policy meeting of the ECB on Thursday, which is to be followed by the U.S. jobs report for November on Friday. Central banks in the U.K., Canada and Australia are also to hold policy setting meetings next week.
Monday, December 1
China is to release official data on manufacturing activity, as well as the HSBC manufacturing index. The U.K. is to publish its manufacturing index as well as data on net lending to individuals. In the U.S., the Institute of Supply Management is to release data on manufacturing activity.
Tuesday, December 2
Australia is to release data on building approvals and the current account. Later in the day, the Reserve Bank of Australia is to announce its benchmark interest rate and publish its rate statement, which outlines economic conditions and the factors affecting the monetary policy decision. In the euro zone, Spain is to release data on the change in the number of people employed. The U.K. is to publish a report on construction sector activity.
Wednesday, December 3
Australia is to publish a report on GDP, the broadest indicator of economic activity and the leading indicator of economic growth. China is to release official data on service sector activity, as well as the HSBC services index. The U.K. is to release what will be a closely watched report on service sector growth. The euro zone is to release data on retail sales, the government measure of consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity. The U.S. is to release the ADP report on private sector job creation. The Bank of Canada is to announce its benchmark interest rate and publish its rate statement, which outlines economic conditions and the factors affecting the monetary policy decision. Later Thursday, the ISM is to publish a report on U.S. service sector activity.
Thursday, December 4
Australia is to publish data on retail sales and the trade balance, the difference in value between imports and exports. The U.K. is to publish private sector data on house price inflation. The Bank of England is to announce its benchmark interest rate. Later in the day, the ECB is to announce its benchmark interest rate. The announcement is to be followed by a press conference with President Mario Draghi. The U.S. is to release the weekly report on initial jobless claims. Canada is to publish its Ivey PMI.
Friday, December 5
In the euro zone, Germany is to release data on factory orders. The Swiss National Bank is to publish data on its foreign currency reserves. This data is closely scrutinized for indications of the size of the bank’s operations in currency markets. Canada is to publish data on the change in the number of people employed and the unemployment rate, as well as a separate report on the trade balance. The U.S. is to round up the week with the closely watched government report on nonfarm payrolls, the unemployment rate and average earnings, as well as a report on factory orders.