Next Week At A Glance

This story features WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED. For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: WOW

By Greg Peel

US earnings season gets into full swing next week after tonight sees the the release of the Citigroup result. There are two many big names reporting next week to highlight here, but suffice to say there's a fair swag of Dow components along with big banks and techs.

JP Morgan provided promise for bank stocks last night but analysts fear an above-peer performance, while Google's extraordinarily good result after the bell may just be a catalyst for a more positive view.

In the meantime, Italy appears to be at least trying to get its act together and EU officials will soon outline the next bail-out package for Greece, so perhaps euro fears might also ease a tad next week. And we now know that the Fed is underpinning the US market, providing a floor somewhere below the current level with a promise of QE3.

Housing is also in the frame next week in the US, with the housing sentiment index, housing starts, existing home sales and the FHFA house price index due. We will also see a leading economic index and the Philly Fed manufacturing index.

In a relatively quiet week for Australia the minutes of the July RBA meeting, due Tuesday, will dominate. Economists are now doubting whether 2011 will see an interest rate at all and some commentators are even suggesting the next move may be down. Take a look at the David Jones ((DJS)) result and they might just have a point.

After a well received second quarter GDP this week, HSBC will next week provide its “flash” estimate of China's July manufacturing PMI – a very closely watched data point.

Quarterly production season for the Australian resources sector also ramps up next week, featuring OZ Minerals ((OZL)), BHP Billiton ((BHP)), Woodside ((WPL)), Newcest ((NCM)) and Santos ((STO)). Woolworths ((WOW)) will report its Q4 sales on Wednesday. 

For a more comprehensive preview of next week's events, please refer to "The Monday Report", published each Monday morning. For all economic data release dates, ex-div dates and times and other relevant information, please refer to the FNArena Calendar.

Click to view our Glossary of Financial Terms