ECONOMIC DIARY APRIL 18-21

THIS week investor’s attention will be on inflation, retail sales and motor vehicle sales data for March of various countries.

Most developed market economies will also release the April figures for their Composite, Manufacturing and Services Purchasing Managers Indices (PMI).

The meeting of the World Bank and IMF group starts in the US on Friday.

Domestically Stats SA will release South Africa’s inflation rate for March on Wednesday.

Domestically

Today: Stats SA will publish the inflation rate for March.

Globally

Today: Australia: New motor vehicle sales – March; EU: balance of trade – February; Russia: PPI, Retail sales and Unemployment rate – March;

US: Crude oil stocks April 14; US: 30-year mortgage applications – April 14.

Tomorrow: Japan: Balance of trade – March;

Germany: PPI – March; US: Initial and continuing jobless claims – April 15;

US: Natural gas stocks – April 14; US Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index – April;

EU: Consumer confidence flash – April.

Friday: Japan: Nikkei manufacturing index – April; Japan: Tertiary industry index – February;

France: Manufacturing PMI – April; Germany: Manufacturing, Composite and Services PMI – April;

EU: Composite, manufacturing and Services PMI – April; EU: Current account – February;

Hong Kong: Business confidence – Q2; Inflation rate – March and Unemployment rate – March: UK: retail sales – March; Canada: Inflation rate – March; US: Inflation rate – March: US: Retail sales – March; US: Composite, Manufacturing and Services PMI – April; US: Existing home sales – March; US: Meeting of World Bank and IMP group.