Review of the main events of the Forex economic calendar for the next trading week (10.05.2021 – 16.05.2021)
Trading on key Forex news: next week we expect the publication of important macro statistics from Australia, China, the UK, Germany, the United States, as well as speeches by the heads of the central banks of the UK and Canada.
The dollar fell sharply last Friday after the release of data from the US labor market that did not meet the expectations. The country’s Labor Ministry reported that the number of non-farm jobs in April rose by 266,000 (forecast was +978,000), while unemployment, instead of the expected decline, rose to 6.1% from 6% in March.
The expectations of the soon upcoming curtailing of the Fed’s stimulus program amid rapid improvement in economic data and rising inflation have now declined significantly.
Obviously, the Fed’s caution amid growing optimism in the economy was justified.
President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Neel Kashkari, speaking on Bloomberg after Friday’s employment report, noted that planning for monetary policy should be based on evidence, not forecasts.
The DXY dollar index fell by 1.1% last week, thus declining to February levels. At the same time, the American stock indices closed the last week with another gain. Despite the weak data from the labor market, investors are optimistic about the prospects for the American economy, and the weak report from the Ministry of Labor only adds to their confidence that the leaders of the Fed, as promised earlier, will not begin to curtail the stimulus program and will not start raising interest rates before the end of 2023.
Next week, financial market participants will pay attention to the publication of important macro statistics from Australia, China, the UK, Germany, the United States, as well as to the speeches of the heads of the central banks of the UK and Canada.
Traders should pay attention to the publication of the following macro indicators:
*during the coming week, new events may be added to the calendar and / or some scheduled events may be canceled
**GMT time
Monday, May 10
01:30 AUD Retail Sales Index
This indicator is published monthly by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and estimates total retail sales. The index is often considered an indicator of consumer confidence and reflects the health of the retail sector in the near term. A rise in the index is usually positive for the AUD; a decrease in the indicator will negatively affect the AUD. The previous value of the index (for February) was -0.8%. If the data turns out to be weaker than the previous value, the AUD may sharply decline in the short term; if they are above the previous values, the AUD is likely to strengthen. Forecast: +1.4% in March.
Tuesday, May 11
01:30 CNY Consumer Price Index (CPI)
The National Bureau of Statistics of China will release another monthly data reflecting the dynamics of consumer prices in China. The rise in consumer prices could trigger an acceleration in inflation, which could force the People’s Bank of China to take measures aimed at tightening fiscal policy. Increased growth in consumer inflation may cause appreciation of the yuan, while a weak result will put pressure on the yuan.
China’s economy, according to various estimates, is already the largest in the world, pushing the US economy into second place. Therefore, the publication of important macroeconomic indicators of this country has a significant impact on world financial markets, primarily on the positions of the yuan, other Asian currencies, the dollar, commodity currencies, as well as on Chinese and Asian stock indices. China is the largest buyer of raw materials and a supplier of a wide range of finished products to the world commodity market.
In January 2021, the growth of the consumer inflation index was +1.0% (-0.3% in annual terms), and in February +0.6% (-0.2% in annual terms).
Deterioration of macroeconomic indicators, including a decrease in consumer inflation, may negatively affect the positions of the yuan, as well as commodity currencies such as the Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand dollars. To a greater extent, this concerns the Australian dollar, since China is Australia’s largest trade and economic partner.
According to the forecast, the consumer price index is expected to decline in April by -0.2%, but an increase of +1.0% in annual terms.
The growth of the consumer inflation index will positively affect the quotes of the yuan, as well as commodity currencies, primarily the Australian dollar. However, a relative decline in CPI may negatively affect them.
14:30 GBP Speech by Head of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey
Financial market participants expect Andrew Bailey to clarify the situation regarding the further policy of the UK central bank. Volatility during the speech of the head of the Bank of England usually rises sharply in the quotes of the pound and the London Stock Exchange FTSE index if he gives any hints of tightening or easing of the Bank of England’s monetary policy. Perhaps Andrew Bailey will also provide clarification on the Bank of England’s decision on the interest rate last week and will touch on the state and prospects of the British economy after Brexit and the partial lifting of quarantine restrictions due to the coronavirus. If Bailey does not touch on monetary policy issues, the reaction to his speech will be weak.
Wednesday, May 12
06:00 GBP UK GDP for Q1 (preliminary estimate)
GDP is considered to be an indicator of the overall health of the British economy. The upward trend in GDP is considered positive for the GBP. The UK’s GDP was one of the highest in the world until 2016, when the Brexit referendum was held. In the future, its growth slowed down, and with the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic, the growth rate of the British GDP went into negative territory altogether.
The UK GDP is forecast to grow 0.5% in Q1 2021 (after falling -19.8% in Q2 and rising + 1.3% in Q4 2020). The main factors that can force the Bank of England to keep rates low are weak GDP and labor market growth, as well as low consumer spending. If the GDP data turns out to be worse than the forecast, it will put downward pressure on the pound. Strong GDP report will strengthen the pound.
06:00 EUR Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) in Germany (final release)
This index is published by the EU Statistical Office and is calculated on the basis of a statistical method agreed between all EU countries. It is an indicator for assessing inflation used by the Governing Council of the ECB to assess the level of price stability. A positive result strengthens the EUR, a negative one weakens it.
The preliminary estimate for April was: +2.1% (against +2.0% in March, +1.6% in January and February, -0.7% in December and negative values in the second half of 2020) in annual terms. If the data turn out to be better than the forecast, the euro may strengthen in the short term. The growth of the indicator is a positive factor for the euro. The data indicate that inflation in Germany is accelerating, which is positive for the euro. The data worse than the forecast and the previous value will negatively affect the euro.
09:00 GBP Speech by Head of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey
Volatility during the speech of the head of the Bank of England usually rises sharply in the quotes of the pound and the London Stock Exchange FTSE index if he gives any hints of tightening or easing of the Bank of England’s monetary policy. Perhaps Andrew Bailey will also provide clarification on the Bank of England’s decision on the interest rate last week and will touch on the state and prospects of the British economy after Brexit and the partial lifting of quarantine restrictions due to the coronavirus. If Bailey does not touch on monetary policy issues, the reaction to his speech will be weak.
12:30 USD Consumer Price Index (excluding food and energy)
Consumer Price Index (CPI) determines the change in prices of a selected basket of goods and services for a given period and is a key indicator for assessing inflation and changes in consumer preferences. Food and energy have been excluded from this indicator to provide a more accurate estimate. A high value strengthens the US dollar, while a value weakens it. In March 2021, the value of the indicator was at +0.3% (+1.6% in annual terms). Forecast for April: +0.3% and +2.3% (in annual terms), which indicates some improvement in the situation after the fall of the index in March and April 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. If the data turns out to be weaker than the forecast, the dollar is likely to respond with a short-term decline. Better-than-forecast data will strengthen the dollar.
Thursday, May 13
In most European countries, banks will be closed for the celebration of the Catholic Ascension Day. Trading volumes will be reduced.
15:00 CAD Speech by Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada
The Canadian economy, as well as the entire global economy, slowed down in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier, Tiff Macklem said that the Canadian economy is quite stable. However, the situation has changed rapidly, and not for the better. It will be interesting now to hear Macklem’s opinion on the sustainability of the Canadian economy and the monetary policy of the central bank.
If Macklem touches on the topic of the monetary policy of the Bank of Canada, the volatility in the quotes of the Canadian dollar will rise sharply. His tough tone will help strengthen the Canadian dollar. The soft rhetoric of Macklem’s speech and the propensity for soft monetary policy will negatively affect the CAD quotes.
Probably, he can also provide some guidelines for investors on the eve of the next meeting of the Bank of Canada, which will be held on June 9.
16:00 GBP Speech by Head of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey
Volatility during the speech of the head of the Bank of England usually rises sharply in the quotes of the pound and the London Stock Exchange FTSE index if he gives any hints of tightening or easing of the Bank of England’s monetary policy. Perhaps Andrew Bailey will also provide clarification on the Bank of England’s decision on the interest rate last week and will touch on the state and prospects of the British economy after Brexit and the partial lifting of quarantine restrictions due to the coronavirus. If Bailey does not touch on monetary policy issues, the reaction to his speech will be weak.
Friday, May 14
12:30 USD Retail sales. Retail control group
This report (Retail Sales) reflects the total sales of retailers of all sizes and types. Changes in retail sales are the main indicator of consumer spending. The report is a leading indicator, and in the future the data may be greatly revised. A high result strengthens the US dollar, a low one weakens it. A relative decrease in the indicator may have a short-term negative impact on the dollar, while an increase in the indicator will have a positive effect on the USD. In the previous month (March), the indicator increased by +9.7% (after rising by +7.6% in January and falling by -2.9% in February), which indicates that the improvement in this sector of the American economy is still unstable after partial lifting of strict quarantine restrictive measures in a number of states. Outlook for April: +1.0%, which is likely to have a positive effect on the USD if the forecast is confirmed.
Retail sales is the leading indicator of consumer spending in the United States showing changes in retail sales. The Retail Control Group metric measures volume across the entire retail industry and is used to calculate price indices for most products. A strong result strengthens the US dollar, and vice versa, a weak report weakens the dollar. A slight increase in indicators is unlikely to accelerate the growth of the dollar. The data worse than the values of the previous period (+6.9% in March, -3.5% in February, +8.7% in January) may negatively affect the dollar in the short term. Forecast for April: +0.8%.
14:00 USD University of Michigan Consumer Confidence Index (preliminary release)
This indicator reflects the confidence of American consumers in the economic development of the country. A high level indicates economic growth, while a low level indicates stagnation. Previous values of the indicator: 88.3 in April, 84.9 in March, 76.8 in February, 79.0 in January 2021. An increase in the indicator will strengthen the USD, while a decrease in the value will weaken the dollar. This indicator is expected to be released in May with a value of 89.5. There is a steady trend towards a gradual recovery in the growth of the indicator, which is positive for the USD. The data worse than the forecast may negatively affect the dollar in the short term.
Price chart of GBPUSD in real time mode
The content of this article reflects the author’s opinion and does not necessarily reflect the official position of LiteForex. The material published on this page is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as the provision of investment advice for the purposes of Directive 2004/39/EC.
- 000
- 2016
- 2020
- 2021
- 7
- 84
- 9
- advice
- All
- American
- American economy
- Andrew Bailey
- April
- article
- Australia
- Bank
- Bank of China
- Bank of England
- Banks
- Blog
- Bloomberg
- Brexit
- British
- CAD
- Calendar
- Canada
- Canadian
- Cause
- Central Bank
- Central Banks
- change
- China
- chinese
- closed
- coming
- comments
- commodity
- confidence
- consumer
- Consumers
- content
- Coronavirus
- Coronavirus pandemic
- Council
- countries
- currencies
- data
- day
- Development
- DID
- Dollar
- dollars
- easing
- ECB
- Economic
- Economic growth
- economy
- employment
- energy
- England
- estimates
- EU
- Euro
- European
- events
- exchange
- Fed
- Federal
- federal reserve
- Federal Reserve Bank
- financial
- food
- For Investors
- forex
- Friday
- future
- GDP
- Germany
- Global
- Global economy
- goods
- Governor
- Group
- Grow
- Growing
- Growth
- guidelines
- head
- Health
- High
- HTTPS
- image
- Impact
- Including
- Increase
- index
- industry
- inflation
- interest
- Interest Rates
- investment
- Investors
- issues
- IT
- Jobs
- Key
- labor
- leading
- Level
- logo
- London
- London Stock Exchange
- Macro
- March
- Market
- Markets
- materials
- Michigan
- monthly data
- Near
- New Zealand
- news
- official
- Opinion
- Optimism
- Other
- Outlook
- pandemic
- partner
- Pay
- People
- planning
- policy
- pressure
- Preview
- price
- Products
- Program
- Q1
- quarantine
- range
- Rates
- Raw
- reaction
- recovery
- referendum
- report
- reserve bank
- retail
- retail industry
- retailers
- sales
- selected
- Services
- Short
- Spending
- Stability
- start
- State
- States
- statistics
- stimulus
- stock
- Sustainability
- The Future
- time
- touch
- trade
- Trading
- Uk
- unemployment
- United
- United States
- university
- University of Michigan
- us
- US Dollar
- US economy
- USD
- value
- Volatility
- volume
- week
- world
- Yuan