What’s Happening Next Week?

This story features BHP GROUP LIMITED, and other companies. For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: BHP

By Chris Shaw

The US is the source of the largest amount of economic releases next week, starting with March leading indicators released on Monday. This will be followed by the State Street investor confidence index for April due on Tuesday, the February house price index on Wednesday, existing home sales data for March out on Thursday and durable goods and new home sales data for the same month due on Friday.

There will also be a range of economic data on the health of the Australian economy with quarterly producer price index data out on Monday, preliminary balance of payments data for March and the latest Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) minutes due on Tuesday along with a speech by Governor Stevens in Adelaide, March quarter CPI numbers and April skilled vacancy data on Wednesday and March motor vehicle sales numbers out on Thursday. In contrast New Zealand data are relatively light on next week with only March visitor arrival and credit card spending numbers expected on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.

After a rush of Chinese data this week, including the latest GDP numbers, it is Japan taking centre stage for Asia over the next seven days, with leading and coincident index numbers for February out on Monday, March merchandise trade balance data are scheduled for Tuesday and full trade balance numbers for the same month are expected on Wednesday. Thursday will see the release of all industry activity index data for February and March corporate service prices, while Friday should see small business confidence numbers for April released.

Turning to Europe, Monday in the UK should see Rightmoves house price data for April and on Tuesday expect March CPI numbers for the UK along with results of the April ZEW economic sentiment survey in the EU region. On Wednesday the UK will digest February average earnings numbers along with the latest Bank of England minutes and the government’s budget statement. Also due on Wednesday is the latest world economic outlook release from the Intenational Monetary Fund.

Along with first quarter industrial trends data from the UK there will be February current account and industrial new orders numbers and April PMI data from the EU on Thursday, while on Friday there will be March quarter GDP and March retail sales numbers from the UK along with the index of services numbers for February.

Australian corporate activity will also be a little higher next week with mining companies busy releasing quarterly production reports with the likes of Oil Search ((OSH)), BHP Billiton ((BHP)), Newcrest ((NCM)), Santos ((STO)) and Woodside ((WPL))) expected to report, while Wesfarmers ((WES)) will give its third quarter trading update on Tuesday and AXA Asia-Pacific ((AXA)) will provide March quarter cash flow numbers on Wednesday.

As well, ANZ Banking Group ((ANZ)) is scheduled to deliver its interim profit result on Thursday.

Also next week a number of smaller companies go ex-dividend including E&A Limited ((EAL)), Gazal Corporation ((GZL)), OM Holdings ((OMH)) and STW Communications ((SGN)), while there will also be annual general meetings from the likes of Aristocrat ((ALL)), Energy Resources of Australia ((ERA)), Oz Minerals ((OZL)), Tap Oil ((TAP)) and Caltex ((CTX)) among the larger names.

For more information: see the FNArena calendar on the website (updated regularly) and Monday’s The Week Ahead.

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