MNI Global Morning Briefing

By Jai Lakhani

     LONDON (MNI) - The calendar gets underway early on Tuesday with little to

report in the UK with   Thursday London's main focus with the BOE's interest

rate decision and inflation report. 

     Starting at 0545GMT is Switzerland's unemployment data. Previously the

unemployment rate stood at 2.9% for February showing m/m and y/y declines in

growth of 9.4% and 14.4% respectively. 

     That is followed by Germany at 0600GMT, with their trade balance and

industrial output data. The trade balance previously saw a decline in the m/m

growth in exports at 3.2% and a decline in m/m imports growth of 1.3%. The trade

balance as a whole saw a m/m increase of EUR19.2 billion. Industrial Production

is next which previously saw m/m and y/y growth of -1.6% and 2.6%. 

     The US sees an early calendar entry, as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

speaks in Zurich at 0715GMT. 

     Next up in the UK is Halifax House Price Index at 0730GMT. Prices in the

last three months to March were 2.7% higher than in the same three months a year

earlier which was slightly higher than the 1.8% annual growth recorded in

February. 

     A late morning release from down under at 0930GMT, as Australia's Federal

Budget forecast for 2018-2019 is published. 

     The US is staring a little earlier today with the bulk of its data at

1000GMT seeing the release of their NIFB Small Business Optimism Index. The

previous index value was at 104.7.

     Next up at 1215GMT is Housing Starts in Canada. The previous index value

stood at 225.2.

     A triple release from the US of their optimism index, job openings level

and quits rate is at 1400GMT. The optimism index previously stood at 52.6

whereas the openings level and quit rate was at 6052 and 2.2% respectively. 

     New Zealand provide their Electronic card transactions at 2245GMT. 

     Next up is the UK's BRC-KPMG shop sales monitor at 2301GMT. March saw

like-for-like year on year growth of 1.4% and on a total basis, y/y growth of

2.3%. 

     Japan closes out the calendar early doors at 0000GMT with their average

wages data. Total wages previously saw y/y growth of 1.3%, however real wages

declined by 0.5%, also on a y/y basis. 

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com