MNI Global Morning Briefing

     LONDON (MNI) - The most important data releases on Thursday come from

Switzerland at 0645GMT with their Q4 GDP data, preliminary February CPI data

from Germany at 1300GMT and US Q4 GDP data at 1330GMT.

     Switzerland is expected to avoid a technical recession with the MNI median

pointing to 0.3% q/q growth in Q4, after a decline of 0.2% in Q3. The y/y growth

rate is expected to decline however to 1.7% from 2.4% previously.

     In Germany, HICP is expected to rise a touch from 1.7% y/y to 1.8%.

     Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic is due to speak at

1300GMT in Atlanta.

     Analysts see a 2.5% increase for fourth quarter U.S. GDP in the initial

estimate, much slower than the 3.4% gain in the third quarter. The very weak

December retail sales took the wind out of expectations for a solid PCE reading

for the quarter, but it is still expected to be a positive factor. Capital

spending should also add to GDP, but missing December data for business

inventories and international trade present a forecast risk.

     Raphael Bostic speaks in Atlanta again at the same event from 1350GMT.

Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Patrick Harker speaks on the

economic outlook in Philadelphia from 1700GMT.

     Finishing the speeches at 1800GMT, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President

Rob Kaplan speaks in San Antonio, Texas.

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