Highlights
The focus for this week is on the US central bank policy decision. At its two-day meeting ending on Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to leave the target range for the federal funds rate in a range of 5.25 to 5.50 percent. The Fed is keeping restrictive monetary conditions to bring inflation back to its 2 percent target from above 3 percent as the US economy remains resilient despite high borrowing costs.
Friday's US employment data is expected to show the pace of job creation slowed in January from an above-forecast 216,000 in non-farm payrolls in December.
On Monday, the Dallas Fed manufacturing survey for January is expected to show business activity remained in contraction territory. The general activity index is seen slipping back after improving sharply to minus 9.3 in December from minus 19.9 in November.
Japanese payrolls are expected to post their 17th straight rise on year in December, reflecting widespread labor shortages at manufacturers, medical services, hotels and restaurants. The unemployment rate is forecast at 2.5 percent, unchanged from the previous two months and staying just above the three-year low of 2.4% hit in January 2023. More people are quitting to look for better openings and those who join the labor market, unemployed, tend to find work soon, keeping the jobless rate steady.
Australian retail sales are expected to fall 0.6 percent on the month in December (forecasts range from minus 4.0 to plus 2.0 percent), giving up some of November's 2.0 percent rebound, which was triggered by holiday spending during Black Friday sales.
Friday's US employment data is expected to show the pace of job creation slowed in January from an above-forecast 216,000 in non-farm payrolls in December.
On Monday, the Dallas Fed manufacturing survey for January is expected to show business activity remained in contraction territory. The general activity index is seen slipping back after improving sharply to minus 9.3 in December from minus 19.9 in November.
Japanese payrolls are expected to post their 17th straight rise on year in December, reflecting widespread labor shortages at manufacturers, medical services, hotels and restaurants. The unemployment rate is forecast at 2.5 percent, unchanged from the previous two months and staying just above the three-year low of 2.4% hit in January 2023. More people are quitting to look for better openings and those who join the labor market, unemployed, tend to find work soon, keeping the jobless rate steady.
Australian retail sales are expected to fall 0.6 percent on the month in December (forecasts range from minus 4.0 to plus 2.0 percent), giving up some of November's 2.0 percent rebound, which was triggered by holiday spending during Black Friday sales.
Definition
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.
Description
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.
