It’s another tough week for markets and investors here and around the globe.
Central bank meetings here, in Japan, Europe and the UK, jobs data in the US, manufacturing surveys here and around the globe (except China) and of course the continuing fears about the stability of the eurozone and the markets.
A rate cut is tipped for Europe, but nothing here in Australia today.
The manufacturing surveys started on Friday and Saturday with better than expected data for China from the final HSBC survey and the official PMI from the Chinese Government’s Logistics Federation on Saturday.
Australia’s survey was out yesterday and other surveys from Asia, the US and Europe were released overnight.
Service sector surveys for last month will be released Wednesday and Thursday in Australia, the US, Asia and Europe.
In Australia Reserve Bank board meeting today dominates local news.
The minutes of last month’s meeting gave no indication of when the bank may make its next move on rates, though some analysts are forecasting the next move could be a cut, with November’s Melbourne Cup day meeting tipped as when that might happen.
The betting is the RBA won’t change rates today for the tenth consecutive meeting.
We will also get the start of August’s economic data with retail sales, building approvals and trade data out today and tomorrow.
Inbound and outbound travel data from the ABS is out on Thursday.
All are expected to show a continuation of the weaker to steady tone in July.
Car industry sales figures for last month are due out mid week and should show a continuation of the solid trend of August as well.
And we also have the Federal Government’s tax summit in Canberra.
It’s a quiet week in the corporate area.
Annual and extraordinary meetings this week will come for companies including:
Bradken Ltd, Oakton Ltd, Avalon Minerals Ltd, Pro-Pac Packaging Ltd, Djerriwarrh Investments Ltd, Erongo Energy Ltd, Cash Converters International Ltd, Payce Consolidated Ltd, UraniumSA Ltd, Fermiscan Holdings, Carabella Resources Ltd, Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd, Prana Biotechnology Ltd .
In the US September’s nonfarm payrolls and unemployment rate will be out Friday night, our time, and will dominate the week, especially with suggestions the economy is stumbling along at stalling speed.
Forecasts are for between 70,000 and 100,000 new jobs to have been created in September. A high figure would be a comfort and confirm the suspicion that while the US economy is slowing, it’s not dipping into a recession.
A figure around 70,000 or less would raise renewed doubts about the direction of the economy. Some forecasts have the new jobs estimate at around 45,000 new positions.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on the economic outlook at the Joint Economic Committee in Washington, tonight, our time.
And consumer credit for August, released by the Federal Reserve, is forecast to show another rise as Americans continue to use credit to buy cars, get college education and by food.
Among other notable events this week, Apple Inc will hold an event Tuesday at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.
That’s expected to include a new version of its popular iPhone as well as the launch of the latest update to its iOS mobile operating system and its iCloud service.
In Europe, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank will hold monthly policy meetings.
Some analysts in London say the Bank of England may reveal another easing at this meeting in an attempt to stimulate the moribund UK economy.
UK inflation remains high, but the slow loss of momentum in the UK economy is of increasing concern.
Until Friday, the European Central Bank was widely expected to cut rates and either partly or fully reverse the two 0.25% increases from earlier this year.
But the release of data showing a rise in eurozone inflation to 3% last month might cause a problem for the risk-averse central bank whose long time head, Jean-Claude Trichet finishes up this month.
Thursday night’s meeting is his last.
But the weak, volatile nature of the eurozone and the shaky state of the financial system, demands some action from the ECB.
Some forecasters say that even if there’s no rate cut, the ECB will reveal a massive increase in support for the zone’s troubled banks.
EU retail sales data is out for August later in the week.
Figures out last Friday showed a massive fall in German sales of 2.9% in the month, far worse than the forecast 0.4% drop.
In Asia, Chinese markets, banks and government offices will be closed the whole week for the National Day holidays.
China’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) continued its rise in September, hitting a reading of 51.2 from 50.9 in August.
And the HSBC purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was 49.9 in September – the same reading as in August – up from 49.3 in July, which was the first contraction in a year.
A reading above 50 indicates the sector is expanding, while a reading below 50 suggests contraction.
The final September gauge was slightly higher than HSBC’s preliminary figure of 49.4 released earlier this month, although the index still averaged its lowest quarterly reading since the first quarter of 2009, HSBC said.
The Bank of Japan revealed its latest survey of business sentiment yesterday which showed an overall improvement and the central bank will also announce its monetary policy decision at the end of a two-day meeting Friday.
