The local earnings season continues into next week before coming to a shuddering halt after Thursday, the last day of the month. There is still a long list of reports yet to be delivered.
Next week also sees the run of stocks going ex-dividend step up in pace – a run which will continue well into March.
On the local economic front, the countdown to the December quarter GDP result has begun. Next week brings numbers for construction work done and private sector capex, along with monthly private sector credit.
Thursday brings PMIs from China before the rest of the world begins to follow on the Friday.
The data catch-up in the US continues, with the long-awaited GDP result expected on Thursday, although it’s best not to count one’s chickens until the numbers actually drop.
Other US releases next week, delayed or otherwise, include retail sales (January), consumer confidence, house prices, new and pending home sales, factory orders and PCE inflation. The calendar has January durable goods orders down for Wednesday but I doubt that will be the case.
Fed chair Jerome Powell will provide a mandatory testimony to Congress next week.
