Big week ahead in forex trading: Non-Farm Payrolls, Rate decision from Europe, Britain and Australia and employment figures from all over the globe promise an exciting week. Also note the Stress Test results. Let’s dive into the main events for this week:
Monday, May 4th: Both British and Japanese banks are on holiday, so trading will start slowly. German Retail Sales are expected to stop falling. In the US, Pending Home Sales are predicted to rise by a modest 0.1%.
Tuesday, May 5th: Australian Building Approvals are expected to continue rising. This is a preliminary event to the new Cash Rate in Australia, expected to stay at 3%, the highest in the West. Also note the accompanying RBA Rate Statement. Will the AUD/USD continue to rise?
In Britain, more housing data is expected through the Halifax HPI which is expected to continue falling. A related figure, Construction PMI, is predicted to rise.
In the US, ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI is expected to rise to 42.1. This may be overshadowed by a testament by Ben Bernanke in Washington.
Wednesday, May 6th: Australian Retail Sales are expected to turn positive after falling last month. The surplus in Trade Balance is expected to shrink.
In New Zealand, the quarterly Labor Cost Index is expected to continue rising.
Britain features the Services PMI, which might go one step forward, to 46.3. European Retail Sales are predicted to be barely positive this time.
ADP Non-Farm Employment Change is a preliminary figure preceding the NFP: expectations are for a drop of 644K, significantly better than last time.
In Canada, Building Permits are expected to rise by 2.6%, after the devastating fall of 15.6% (!) last time. Also note the Canadian Ivey PMI which expected to squeeze, and a speech by BOC Governor Mark Carney.
Also in Switzerland, the head of the central bank will give an important speech: SNB Governing Board Chairman Jean-Pierre Roth might shed some light over the Swiss economy.
Near the end of the day, employment figures will be released in New Zealand: Employment Change is expected to fall, while Unemployment Rate is predicted to soar from 4.7% to 5.3% in the far land of the kiwi.
Thursday, May 7th: Following New Zealand, Australia’s Employment Change is also expected to fall, while Unemployment Rate is expected to rise from 5.7% to 5.9%.
Britain is expected to leave the Official Bank Rate at the historic low of 0.5%. So, the accompanying MPC Rate Statement will be much more interesting, especially after Darling’s budget hurt the Pound.
In Europe, Jean-Claude Trichet can’t avoid dropping the European Minimum Bid Rate to 1%, after escaping it last time. Usually the ECB Press Conference also shakes the EUR/USD.
American Unemployment Claims aren’t expected to be shocking, staying at around 639K. Also note the Prelim Non-farm Productivity, Prelim Unit Labor Costs and Consumer Credit.
19 of America’s banks are expected to get a report: Stress Tests are due today. The results and the market’s reaction will be very interesting to watch. Ben Bernanke will speak again, this time in a less official event.
Friday, May 8th: RBA Monetary Policy Statement will complete the Australian rate decision on Tuesday, giving a broad view of the Australian economy.
Swiss Unemployment Rate is expected to rise from 3.3% to 3.4%, and might move the USD/CHF. In Britain, PPI Input is expected to rise very slightly, by 0.7%, igniting fears of deflation. German Industrial Production is expected to fall again…
In Canada, employment figures are released: Employment Change is expected to be negative, while the Unemployment Rate is predicted to rise from 8% to 8.3%. Housing Starts are predicted to shrink to 140K.
Non-Farm Employment Change, king of forex indicators, is expected to be somewhat improved, falling this time by “only” 615K jobs, about 50K better than last time. Here at forex crunch, there will be a special preview towards this event, that might show small winds of change…
The accompanying figure for the Non-Farm Payrolls is the Unemployment Rate, which is predicted to rise 8.9%. Also note the Average Hourly Earnings which are expected to rise.
Do note my new page in the site, about a forex demo account.
Happy Forex Trading!
Share
