Next week Australia enjoys a four-day week, followed thereafter by a three-day week, as Easter all but runs into Anzac Day. School holidays have already begun or are set to begin in various states, and workers will have realised if one takes mere three days off after Easter, a full ten-day break is achieved.
In other words, we are likely in for a quieter period in the markets. Those planning a holiday are advised to look offshore. Anywhere away from the election campaign.
That said, corporate data releases begin to ramp up from next week, following the typical post result season hiatus. Quarterly update period is now upon us, and the trickle of AGMs for calendar-reporting companies has begun.
Next week sees quarterly production reports from, among others, Oil Search ((OSH)), Rio Tinto ((RIO)), BHP Group ((BHP)), Santos ((STO)), Fortescue Metals ((FMG)), South32 ((S32)) and Woodside Petroleum ((WPL)).
Quarterly updates are due from Transurban ((TCL)) and Challenger ((CGF)), while OZ Minerals ((OZL)), Iluka Resources ((ILU)) and G8 Education ((GEM)) hold AGMs, and Australian Pharmaceutical ((API)) reports earnings.
Local economic data releases are nonetheless more scant, with the minutes of the April RBA meeting and March jobs numbers the highlights.
China will release March industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment numbers on Wednesday, along with March quarter GDP.
The US will see industrial production, trade and retail sales data.
All “western” markets are closed for Good Friday.
