In Canada, Ivey Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), Monthly Survey to rate the business conditions including employment, production, new orders, prices, supplier deliveries, and inventories reduce to 58.6 from 63.5 on the last month and indicates industry expansion.

The Australian economy, with its great dependence on exports, has been hit hard by the global economic slowdown, but now finds itself well-prepared for an improvement in the global economy, especially that of the US. The aussie has benefitted from this, and has been an exceptional performer in 2012.

Here’s an update on technicals, fundamentals and what’s going on in the markets.

In the US, Unemployment Rate, measures total work unemployed force (by percentage) that looking for jobs during the last month.

In the US, Unemployment Claims, monthly indicator to value the unemployment insurance that was filed on the last week, is predicted to drop down from 377K to 373K this week.

In the US, The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI); Monthly Managers Survey to value the business conditions such as new orders, deliveries and inventories, rise is expected from 53.9 points on December up to 54.6 points now. And on the ISM Manufacturing Prices similar rise is forecasted from 47.5 points to 49.5 points.

The dollar continued to retreat, despite stronger US economic figures. The franc continues to roll, and the big question now is: will the dollar drop below the 0.90 level before a correction occurs?

World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meetings – Day 2, this time is held in Davos for Bankers, Political, trade & finance Ministers and Commercial leaders from around 90 countries. Can influent market volatility.

In the US, Richmond Manufacturing Index, Manufacturer’s Monthly Survey to rate business conditions such as shipments, new orders etc., rise that shows condition improvements by 3 points up to 6 points this month.

Last week Japan’s core machinery orders jumped 14.8% from October. This climb was much higher than predicted, suggesting companies spent more capital yielding to the market demand following last year’s earthquake. Meantime, Tertiary Industry Activity went down more than predicted dropping 0.8% in November after 0.7% gain in the prior month. Let’s find out what’s in store for us this week.