ECONOMIC DIARY FEBRUARY 20-24

THIS WEEK investor’s attention will be on the release of the latest economic growth data for Thailand; Hong Kong; the UK; Mexico and Germany. Various countries will also release their latest manufacturing and services Purchasers Managers Indices (PMI), home sales data, retail sales and inflation rate figures. Domestically all eyes will be on the National Budget speech by Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan this coming Wednesday. Statistic SA will announce South Africa’s latest production prices inflation rate for January. Domestically

Wednesday, February 22: Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, will deliver the national budget for 2017/18.

Thursday, February 23: Statistics SA will release the latest production price inflation rate data for January.

Globally

Today: Japan: Balance of Trade – January; Thailand: GDP growth rate Q4; Germany: PPI – January; Russia: Industrial production and retail sales – January; EU: Consumer confidence index – February.

Tomorrow: Australia: RBA meeting minutes; France: Inflation rate – January; France: Manufacturing PMI - February; Germany: Manufacturing and services PMI – February; EU: Manufacturing and services PMI – February; US: Manufacturing PMI – February.

Wednesday, February 22: China: House price index – January; Hong Kong: GDP growth rate – Q4; Germany: Business climate index – February; UK: GDP growth rate – Q4 and Business investment Q4; EU: Inflation rate – January; US: Existing home sales: January.

Thursday, February 23: Japan: Leading economic index: December; Germany: GDP growth rate – Q4; France: Business confidence index; US: Initial and continuing jobless claims; US: House price index – December; US: Natural gas stocks change.

Friday, February 24: Thailand: Balance of trade – January; France: Consumer confidence index – February; Canada: Inflation rate: January; US: New home sales – January; Canada: Budget balance – December; France: Unemployment benefit claims – January.