Forex Daily Outlook – March 22 2011

The speeches of FOMC Member Fisher and Treasury Sec Geithner together with Canadian Retail sales are the main events this day. Here is an outlook on the major market-movers.

In the US, FOMC Member Fisher Speaks, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Richard Fisher is due to deliver a speech titled “Monetary and Fiscal Policy Challenges in the United States” at the Goethe University, in Frankfurt. Hints regarding future monetary policy may be dropped.

Later in the US, Treasury Secretary Geithner Speaks, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is due to speak at the Fostering Growth and Innovation for Small Companies Conference, in Washington DC. His speeches might have direct impact on the market.

In Canada, Retail Sales, Retail sales dropped 0.2% in December following 1.5% gain in the previous month. A gain of 1.1% is predicted now. Meantime Core Retail Sales increased 0.6% in December a bit lower than the 0.7% gain expected following 0.9% increase in the previous month. Further increase of 0.8%is predicted now.

More in Canada, Leading Index based on 10 economic indicators gained 0.3% in January in line with expectations following 0.4% increase in the prior month. Another increase of 0.7% is expected now.

Finally in Canada, Annual Budget Release, Canadian Government is about to release its budget plan for the year, including expected spending and income levels, borrowing levels, financial objectives, and planned investments. This budget is intended to balance deficit by 2015.

For more on USD/CAD, read the  Canadian dollar forecast.

In Switzerland, Trade Balance surplus increased to 1.96B in January following 1.26B in the previous month. Economists predicted surplus to grow to 1.65B. This time expectations are for a bigger gain of 2.13B.

Later in Switzerland, SNB Chairman Hildebrand Speaks, Swiss National Bank Governing Board Chairman Philipp Hildebrand is due to speak at the Press Club, in Geneva. Information regarding interest rates and future monetary policy may be disclosed.

In Great Britain, CPI, Consumer prices rose 0.4% in January as was expected indicating riding inflation. This trend is expected to continue with a further increase of 4.2%.

Later in Great Britain, Public Sector Net Borrowing.  A gain in income vs. spending was registered in January among public corporations with -5.3B this figure was above expectations of -0.2B. Spending is expected to grow to budget deficit of 6.8B.

More in Great Britain, RPI measuring household spendingincreased 5.1% in January in line with expectations, following4.8% increase in the prior month. Another increase of 5.2% is predicted now.

Meantime, CBI Industrial Order Expectations based on a survey of about 550 manufacturers which asks respondents to rate the relative level of order volume expected during the next 3 months, increased by 8 points to -0.8 following -16 in the previous month. Another improvement to 0.5 is forecasted this time.

Finally in the UK, MPC Member Sentance Speaks. External BOE MPC Member Andrew Sentence is due to deliver a speech titled “Turbulent Times for UK Monetary Policy” at the Society of Business Economists, in London. Information regarding future monetary policy may be disclosed.

Read more about the Pound in the  GBP/USD forecast.

In New Zealand, Current Account. The difference in value between imported and exported goods, services, income flows, and unilateral transfers during the previous quarter showed a better than expected deficit of 1.77B while 2.27B was expected.

For more on the Aussie, read the  AUD/USD forecast.

That’s it for today. Happy forex trading!