THE WEEK AHEAD

The minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's November board meeting dominate the week ahead, with the market poised to pounce on any news relating to interest rates.

In local news, lending finance data, building approvals and new car sales figures will be released. Overseas, US retail sales figures, housing starts and consumer price index data are due.

A stack of annual general meetings again fills the corporate calendar for the week, while James Hardie will reveal interim earnings results. BHP Billiton headlines the big names meeting shareholders, along with Seven West Media and BlueScope Steel.

RBA Governor Glenn Stevens will address a corporate function in the week ahead, while the chairman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Greg Medcraft, will also speak.

RBA

Tuesday sees the Reserve Bank of Australia release the minutes of its November board meeting, where it moved to cut the official cash rate by 0.25 per cent, the first policy decision taken by the bank for 12 months. Investors will watch intently for any reflection on the bank's future plans for monetary policy.

On Thursday, the central bank's governor, Glenn Stevens, will speak at the Institute of Internal Auditors (Australia) Financial Services Forum in Sydney.

Friday brings the RBA's quarterly payments system board meeting.

Local news

The Australian Bureau of Statistics will release lending finance data for September on Monday.

On Tuesday, new car sales figures for October will be released by the ABS, and analysts expect the figures to show a 1.8 per cent rise for the month.

Wednesday sees the September quarter labour price index made available by the ABS. Elsewhere, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations skilled vacancies index for October is due.

Thursday brings ABS data on average weekly earnings for August, and economists are tipping wages rose 1 per cent in the month.

Corporate

Annual general meetings again dominate the week in company news.

Monday sees Dulux Group, Elders and Incitec Pivot post full year results. Offshore, Bilfinger Berger, Hanjin Shipping Holdings, Hochtief and Warner Music Group reveal earnings results.

On Tuesday, Ramsay Health Care holds its AGM, while in the US, Wal-Mart reports financial results.

Wednesday brings AGMs from Cabcharge and BC Iron.

On Thursday, BHP Billiton will hold its Australian AGM. Seven West Media will also face shareholders, along with New Hope, BlueScope Steel, Nexus Energy, Resmed and Mirvac.

Elsewhere, James Hardie Industries will release interim earnings results.

Friday brings AGMs from Spotless Group, Sonic Healthcare and Kathmandu Holdings.

Offshore

Overseas, Tuesday brings US retail sales data for October and the producer price index for the month. Retail sales are expected to have risen by 0.2 per cent, according to experts. Producer prices are also thought to have lifted 0.2 per cent.

Elsewhere, September business inventories figures and the New York Empire State manufacturing survey for November will be released.

In the United Kingdom, the October retail price index and consumer price index are due.

The US consumer price index for October headlines international news on Wednesday. Economists are tipping the data to show a 0.2 per cent rise for the month.

US Treasury capital data for September, industrial production figures for October and the NAHB housing market index for November are also on tap. Analysts believe production may have grown by 0.3 per cent in October. The weekly Energy Information Administration petroleum status report and capacity utilisation data for October will also be released.

In the UK, claimant count rate figures for October are set for publication, along with September quarter ILO unemployment rate data. Average earnings data for September is also awaited.

Thursday brings October housing starts data, jobless claims figures and October building permit numbers in the US. The November Philadelphia Federal Reserve survey is also on tap.

Friday sees October leading indicators data released in the US. The index is tipped to show a rise of 0.3 per cent.

Wrapping up

Rounding off the week, MLC and National Australia Bank Wealth group executive Steve Tucker will speak at a Trans-Tasman Business Circle event in Melbourne on Monday. Elsewhere, Standard & Poor's managing director, Australia and New Zealand, John Bailey will be the guest speaker at a Committee for the Economic Development of Australia function in Melbourne.

Tuesday brings an address from Insurance Australia Group chairman Brian Schwartz at a TTBC event in Sydney. Meanwhile, Infrastructure Australia chairman Sir Rod Eddington will speak at a CEDA luncheon in Melbourne and Ford Motor Company president and chief executive officer Robert Graziano will speak at an American Chamber of Commerce in Australia business briefing in Sydney

On Wednesday, Bankwest managing director John Sutton will speak at a CEDA breakfast in Perth. LinkedIn chief executive officer Cliff Rosenberg will address an AMCHAM function in Sydney.

Thursday sees Australian Broadcasting Corporation chairman, and former Australian Securities Exchange chairman, Dr Maurice Newman speak at a CEDA event in Sydney.

On Friday, Australian Securities and Investment Commission chair Greg Medcraft will speak as part of a panel discussion at the FPA National Conference in Brisbane, while Deutsche Bank Australia and New Zealand executive chairman John Macfarlane will be the guest of an Australian Institute of Company Directors function in Melbourne. Elsewhere, Optus chief executive officer Paul O'Sullivan will address a CEDA event in Sydney, Santos vice president of Western Australia and Northern Territory John Anderson will be a guest at an AMCHAM function in Perth and John Deere's Australia and New Zealand managing director, Mike Park, will address a separate AMCHAM event in Brisbane.