Article by ForexTime

The coming week has a busy economic calendar. The main focus of the markets will be on China.

As concerns grow over slowing growth in the world’s second largest economy, all eyes will be on China’s GDP release on Friday, which should add insight into the extent to which the economy is transitioning towards consumer driven growth. The data are expected to show quarterly growth slow to a near seven-year low. Aside from the GDP figures, China will also release the latest inflation data (Monday) and industrial production (Friday).

The market focus will also be on the United States, where inflation data (Thursday), retail sales (Wednesday) are due. Markets are expecting core retail sales to have risen +0.4%m/m. Average weekly earnings data will also be closely watched by policy makers on Thursday. Inflation is predicted by markets to have risen 1.2% in the 12 months through to March and 0.2% month-on-month in March. But such figures are not likely to bring a Fed rate hike in April back on the table.

The Eurozone will publish inflation data on Thursday and industrial production on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Bank of England announces its latest monetary policy decision. The Bank is not expected to change interest rates. Markets have pushed back expectations for the first rate hike to 2017.

Article by ForexTime

ForexTime Ltd (FXTM) is an award winning international online forex broker regulated by CySEC 185/12 www.forextime.com