This week we start the run up to the national accounts for the March quarter in Australia to be released next week which are likely to show negative growth in the March quarter, thanks to the impact of flooding in Queensland and Victoria in January and February.
Japan will again be in the news with monthly data for April for trade, retail sales, employment and prices that will confirm the economy is still doing it tough in the wake of the quake and the tsunami in March.
And in the US we get the second estimate of first quarter economic growth and a couple of other figures that will tell us much more about the current mixed health of the economy.
G-8 leaders meet on Thursday and Friday and will discuss Japan’s situation and the eurozone problems, specifically Greece’s impending second bailout.
In Australia, the construction work done figures on Wednesday and Thursday’s capex data are both likely to have been constrained by the impact of the floods earlier this year.
The key to watch in the capex data will be mining sector investment plans for the next financial year which was running at record levels in the first estimate three months ago.
Overall investment was put at $132 billion for the 2011-12 financial year.
Shell on Friday committed to spend between $US11 and $US12 billion on its Prelude floating LNG project in WA.
The AMP’s chief economist, Dr Shane Oliver says "there is a risk though that investment plans outside of the mining sector may have weakened following the softening seen in non-mining sector business conditions and profitability. "
Thursday also brings the first major speech from a senior Reserve Bank official for a month or more, and certainly since the bank hardened its interest rate stance at the start of the month.
RBA Deputy Governor Battellino is due to speak in Sydney Thursday morning at 9.15.
Analysts and economists will be watching the speech closely for any further clues regarding how soon interest rates will change.
In the corporate area, financial results will come from Campbell Brothers, Graincorp, Elders and Thorn Group.
NZ’s Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corporation will release full year earnings results as does Programmed Maintenance Services.
And there are quite a few annual and special meetings due to be held this week.
Westfield’s AGM looks to be the most important among larger companies. Others to watch for include Melbourne IT (software group, Reckon has bought a stake in Melbourne IT, doesn’t want to bid, but wants closer commercial relations). And Austar, which is the subject of more takeover talk from Foxtel.
Other meetings include, Austpac Resources, Clime Investment Management, New Guinea Energy, Novarise Renewable Resources, REVA Medical Inc, MDS Financial Group, Multistack International; Heemskirk Consolidated, Vietnam Industrial Investments.
Also holding meetings this week: IPGA Ltd, Melbourne IT Ltd, Eagle Eye Metals, Kula Gold, Planet Gas, Iluka Resources, Indophil Resources, Northern Iron, Ram Resources, Antares Energy, Reef Casino Trust, Cyclopharm Ltd, Finders Resources – Buxton Resources, Alara Resources, Legend Mining, RMA Energy, Southern Cross Electrical, Terramin Australia, ARC Exploration, Atlantic Gold, Australian Bauxite, Hudson Investment Group, Hudson Resources, Raffles Capital, Savcor Group, Sovereign Gold Company, Advance Energy, Cleveland Mining Company, Hawkley Oil and Gas, Iron Mountain Mining, Mount Magnet South, Reward Minerals, Rialto Energy; Oaks Hotels & Resorts and Phoenix Copper.
Pinto Minerals Ltd, Conto Resources Ltd, Sunseeker Minerals Ltd are all due to list on the ASX
In the US, expect another week of mixed economic data.
New home sales for April due Tuesday are expected to rise but pending home sales data due Friday are likely to fall slightly after a strong rise in March.
But after the surprise fall in new home starts last week, anything is possible in the US housing sector at the moment.
April durable goods orders due Wednesday are likely to have fallen slightly but March quarter GDP growth is likely to be revised up to 2.2% annualised from the 1.8% pace initially reported.
Data for house prices and personal income and spending will also be released.
Reuters reported at the weekend that there’s a fairly full speaking list for the Fed, given the growing interest in the end of the quantitative easing at the end of June.
Reuters said that an advocate of tighter policy, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, gives a speech tonight, our time, while easy money backer Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren speaks on regulatory issues. Bullard speaks again on Tuesday as does fellow tightener, Kansas City Fed President Thomas Hoenig, Fed Governor Elizabeth Duke also speaks on Tuesday while Minneapolis Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota, speaks on monetary policy on Wednesday.
Reuters says 14 companies in the S&P 500 Index are due to report quarterly results this week.
They include, Campbell Soup Co, chip-equipment maker Applied Materials Inc, discount supermarket chain, Costco Wholesale, Polo Ralph Lauren Corp, HJ Heinz Co and Tiffany and Co.
In Asia, Japan could reveal a record trade deficit as consumer prices and retail trade figures for April are released.
Plus full-year results from tech-firms Sony and Lenovo.
Thailand is scheduled to report its first-quarter economic growth figures later today, our time.
In Europe,
