Personal Wealth Management / Market Analysis
The Week Ahead: Jan. 6-12, 2013
Chinese new yuan loans, US crop yields and a number reports on trade and industrial production globally are due in the week ahead.
Monday, 1/7:
Australia November trade balance
UK December Halifax home price index
Eurozone November PPI
Canada December Ivey PMI
The Ivey purchasing managers index measures month-to-month changes by purchasing managers across sectors and regions in Canada.
Tuesday, 1/8:
Germany and France November international trade
Eurozone November retail sales and unemployment
Germany November factory orders
US November consumer credit
China December CPI and PPI
It’s likely the Chinese government pays keen interest to these inflation indicators as officials continue their stimulus efforts in this new leadership year.
Wednesday, 1/9:
China December international trade
UK November international trade
Eurozone revised Q3 GDP
Italy Q3 unemployment
Germany November industrial production
Canada December housing starts
New Zealand November international trade
Thursday, 1/10:
France December CPI and November industrial production
Bank of England and ECB monetary policy announcements
US weekly jobless claims
US weekly money supply
Ever since the Fed implemented its near-zero interest rate policy, money supply aggregates have become important indicators of the effectiveness of its efforts. So far, M2 money velocity, a key metric showing how quickly money changes hands within the economy and a key determinant of inflation, is historically low. We covered the causes of this and what it means for the economy in several recent pieces.
China Q4 new yuan loans
China controls monetary policy through its use of loan quotas. This restricts the amount of money flowing into the economy in any given year. Although actual loans are typically seen as an indicator of the government’s willingness to lend or of folks willingness to borrow, Q4 typically dips before the government announces a new loan quota in Q1. Additionally, following measures to broaden corporate borrowing options and liberalize debt markets last year, “total social financing” has apparently become officials’ preferred gauge of overall lending.
Friday, 1/11:
Czech Republic presidential elections
The first round of two, the President is elected by majority vote to serve a five-year term. This election is of particular note, as it’ll be the first time Czech citizens directly elect their president. (Previously, the office had been filled by a Parliamentary vote.)
US international trade
US import and export prices
UK and Mexico industrial production
USDA reports on crop yields
Following a severe drought last year, many will look to the report as a sign of the commodities markets’ health. However, those fearing lower crop yields might exacerbate overall higher consumer costs and therefore sting the economy likely underestimate consumers’ overall resilience. What’s more, raw commodities costs make up only a small, quite variable part of retail food costs. Revisit our 7/20/2012 cover story, “Gotta Have My Pops!” for more.
Saturday, 1/12:
China business climate index
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*The content contained in this article represents only the opinions and viewpoints of the Fisher Investments editorial staff.
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