Highlights
The French unemployment rate is expected to fall to 7.0 percent in the October-December quarter from 7.2 percent in the previous quarter.
In the UK, the ILO unemployment rate for the fourth quarter is expected to weigh in at 4.0 percent in a new, hopefully improved, survey. This would be down from the 4.2 percent originally reported for the three months to November using the old survey but up from 3.9 percent on the basis of the new version. Average earnings growth for the fourth quarter is seen sliding to 5.8 percent from 6.5 percent.
Consumer prices in Switzerland are expected to rise 0.5 percent on the month in January after being flat in December. The annual inflation rate is forecast at 1.6 percent, easing slightly from 1.7 percent.
The ZEW monthly survey of financial experts in Germany is likely to show sentiment remains mixed. The current conditions index is expected to fall in February to minus 79.0 from January's minus 77.3, which, for a third month in a row, was lower than expected. The expectations (economic sentiment) index is forecast at 18.0, up from January's 15.2 which, for the sixth month in a row, was higher than expected.
Among US data, the small business optimism index compiled by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is forecast at 92.4 in January, rising further from 91.9 in December, which, benefiting from gains in expectations, was the best reading since July. It would be still below its 50-year average of 98.
In the CPI report, core consumer prices in January are expected to hold steady for a third month in a row at a monthly increase of 0.3 percent. Overall prices are expected to rise 0.2 percent after increasing 0.3 percent in December which, like the month's core result, was also higher than expected. Annual rates, which in December were 3.4 percent overall and 3.9 percent for the core, are expected to slow to 3.0 and 3.7 percent respectively.
In the UK, the ILO unemployment rate for the fourth quarter is expected to weigh in at 4.0 percent in a new, hopefully improved, survey. This would be down from the 4.2 percent originally reported for the three months to November using the old survey but up from 3.9 percent on the basis of the new version. Average earnings growth for the fourth quarter is seen sliding to 5.8 percent from 6.5 percent.
Consumer prices in Switzerland are expected to rise 0.5 percent on the month in January after being flat in December. The annual inflation rate is forecast at 1.6 percent, easing slightly from 1.7 percent.
The ZEW monthly survey of financial experts in Germany is likely to show sentiment remains mixed. The current conditions index is expected to fall in February to minus 79.0 from January's minus 77.3, which, for a third month in a row, was lower than expected. The expectations (economic sentiment) index is forecast at 18.0, up from January's 15.2 which, for the sixth month in a row, was higher than expected.
Among US data, the small business optimism index compiled by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is forecast at 92.4 in January, rising further from 91.9 in December, which, benefiting from gains in expectations, was the best reading since July. It would be still below its 50-year average of 98.
In the CPI report, core consumer prices in January are expected to hold steady for a third month in a row at a monthly increase of 0.3 percent. Overall prices are expected to rise 0.2 percent after increasing 0.3 percent in December which, like the month's core result, was also higher than expected. Annual rates, which in December were 3.4 percent overall and 3.9 percent for the core, are expected to slow to 3.0 and 3.7 percent respectively.
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.
