The key event for this week is the US central bank's two-day policy meeting ending on Wednesday and a post-meeting news conference by the Federal Reserve chair. The federal funds rate target is expected to be held unchanged in a range of 5.25 to 5.50 percent.

The US housing market index is forecast to be unchanged at 50 in September after falling an unexpected 6 points in August to a very subdued level.

In Canada, housing starts are expected to slow to 247,000 in August versus July's 254,966, which was higher than expected.

At 9:30 p.m. EDT Monday (0130 GMT Tuesday), the Reserve Bank of Australia will release the minutes of its Sept. 5 meeting at which its policy board decided to leave the cash rate target unchanged at 4.10 percent for the third consecutive meeting. Inflation has passed its peak and the monthly CPI indicator for July showed a further decline but inflation is still too high and will remain so for some time yet, the bank said.

Market Focus details key factors in the coming day that will impact the economic outlook and the financial markets. These include central bank events, economic indicators, policymaker speeches as well as expected political and corporate developments.

Keeping up-to-date with event schedules and the economic calendar is key to understanding the global financial system. Econoday's Market Focus allows investors and policymakers to carefully track what will be making news and moving the financial markets in the coming day.