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The Next Three Weeks At A Glance

FYI | Dec 21 2012

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.


By Greg Peel

Need I say it? Cliff will dominate US and global market moves in the last trading days of 2012. 

On the subject of trading days, The ASX will open for a half day on Monday, open for full service on Thursday and Friday and open for a half day again on Monday week. Normal service will resume on Wednesday week.

The NYSE will open for half day on Monday and return to full service from Wednesday, only closing thereafter on New Year's Day.

If there is no resolution on Cliff before New Year's Day, Wall Street will be disappointed but it won't be devastated. Any sell-off in thin holiday trading will be seen by many as a buying opportunity. The general feeling is (a) it's not really a “cliff” per se because the triggered policy changes are staggered over time, and (b) if Washington can't reach a compromise before the deadline, one will be found fairly early in the new year.

There will still be plenty of economic data to contemplate. After we get through the “quadruple witching” expiry in the US tonight next week will see further US housing data to keep us interested during the Boxing Day test match. The first week of the new year will bring the global round of manufacturing and service sector PMI numbers, including Australia's, along with US jobs numbers. The following week sees few US releases.

There are no data to speak of for Australia next week, and the following week is highlighted by the PMIs. In the second week of January, Christmas retail sales numbers will be releases along with the trade balance and building approvals. On Wednesday ninth, China will provide its December data dump and follow that up with its December quarter GDP release on that weekend. Boy they can count quickly, those Chinese.

FNArena will suspend normal service from today for the Christmas break although the website will remain fully accessible. Note that the December addition of the FNArena Super Stock Report has now been posted. Full service will resume on January 14.

Which just leaves me to wish all FNArena subscribers and readers a safe and Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I have an inkling '13 may not be that unlucky.
 

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