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The Week Ahead

The Australian data flow is headed by job vacancies figures, while the US and UK announce GDP numbers.
By · 23 Mar 2012
By ·
23 Mar 2012
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A host of important economic indicators are due in the week ahead, with a mixture of local and international releases set to grab the attention of investors.

In local news, job vacancies data is due, while the Reserve Bank will release its biannual financial stability review.

Overseas, fourth quarter GDP data is due in the US.

British GDP figures are also due, as well as current account numbers.

In company news, Nufarm will release earnings results, while Tabcorp and Santos will pay a dividend to shareholders.

Reserve Bank assistant governor Guy Debelle will speak at a corporate function this week, while Productivity Commission chairman Gary Banks will also speak.

RBA

On Tuesday, Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Guy Debelle will speak at the Morgan Stanley Global Macro Investment Conference in Sydney.

Wednesday sees the RBA release its biannual financial stability review, which will outline the central bank's assessment of the health of Australia's financial system.

Local news

The attention moves off local news in the week ahead, with only a small number of releases expected.

On Thursday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics will release job vacancies data for February.

Friday sees RP Data and Rismark release their latest home price data figures, while private sector credit data for February is also due from the ABS.

The figures are expected to show a 0.2 per cent rise in credit for the month.

Elsewhere, the housing industry association will release new home sales data for February.

Corporate

In company news, Monday sees Tabcorp Holdings pay its interim dividend to shareholders.

Overseas, Yanzhou Coal Mining Co is due to release earnings in China.

On Tuesday, Nufarm will release interim results, while Wah Nam International Holdings will meet shareholders at an extraordinary meeting.

Thursday sees Research in Motion unveil earnings figures in the US.

Friday brings a dividend payment from Santos, along with an EGM from Goodman Group.

Offshore

The economic week overseas is dominated by the release of United States GDP data.

On Monday, the US pending home sales index for February is set for release. Economists are expecting the date to show a 1 per cent rise in sales for the month.

The Dallas Federal Reserve manufacturing survey is also due.

In the United Kingdom, nationwide housing prices data for February is expected.

Tuesday brings consumer confidence data for March in the US, as well as the Standard & Poors-Case Shiller home price index for January.

Analysts are tipping confidence to have fallen by 0.3 points to 70.5 in March.

The Richmond Federal Reserve manufacturing index for March will also be released.

In the UK, third quarter GDP data is due.

Current account figures for the fourth quarter are also on tap, along with total business investment data for the same period.

Wrapping up a busy day, the March CBI distributive trades survey is awaited.

Wednesday sees the release of US durable goods orders data for February, as well as the weekly Energy Information Administration petroleum status report.

Orders are expected to have risen 2.5 per cent in the month.

Elsewhere, European Monetary Union money supply data for February is due.

Thursday brings highly anticipated US GDP data for the fourth quarter. Economists are predicting the figures will show the US economy grew around 3 per cent during the period.

Real personal consumption expenditures and gross domestic purchases price index for the quarter will also be released.

Elsewhere, US jobless claims figure are due.

In the UK, Gfk consumer confidence for March will be released, alongside consumer credit data for February.

Index of services figures for the three months to February is awaited, along with mortgage approvals data for the month.

M4 Money Supply for February is also on tap.

US personal income and outlays data for February is awaited on Friday, as well as consumer sentiment figures.

Economists are tipping spending to have lifted 0.6 per cent in the period, while income is expected to have grown 0.4 per cent.

The Chicago purchasing managers index for March is also on tap, alongside the Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for the month.

Wrapping up

Rounding off the week, Monday brings a speech from US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke to the National Association for Business Economics economic policy conference.

Philadelphia Federal Reserve president Charles Plosser will speak on monetary policy.

Elsewhere, the European Banking Authority will release a consultation paper on reporting large exposures.

On Tuesday, Chevron's Wheatstone Project general manager Brian Smith will speak at an American Chamber of Commerce in Australia function in Perth.

SkyCity Entertainment Group managing director and chief executive Nigel Morrison will speak at a Trans-Tasman Business Circle event in Auckland.

The World Trade Organisation will kick off its two-day working group meeting on trade, debt and finance.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will undertake its economic survey for 2012.

St Louis Federal Reserve president James Bullard will speak on monetary policy between China and the US.

Boston Federal Reserve president Eric Rosengren will speak in London.

Bernanke will deliver a lecture at George Washington University in Washington DC.

Wednesday sees Productivity Commission chairman Gary Banks and RBA board member Dr John Edwards speak at a Committee for the Economic Development of Australia function in Sydney.

Bullard will speak at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

Thursday will see a meeting of central bank deputies from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The OECD will release an interim assessment of its economic outlook.

In the US, Atlanta Federal Reserve of president Dennis Lockhart will speak on the global economy.

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia president Charles Plosser is to speak on monetary policy issues.

Richmond Federal Reserve Bank president Jeffrey Lacker will speak on financial stability.

On Friday, GrainCorp chief executive officer Alison Watkins will address an AMCHAM business briefing in Melbourne.

Beach Energy chairman Robert Kennedy and Minotaur Exploration chair Derek Carter will address an AMCHAM event in Adelaide.

Elsewhere, European region finance ministers and central bankers will meet for a two-day summit in Denmark.

On Saturday, Minneapolis Federal Reserve president Narayana Kocherlakota will make an address on monetary policy in Illinois.

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