The prime focus next week will be the Fed statement release and press conference on Wednesday night. Every man and his dog expects a -25 basis point rate cut, and the ECB’s move this week only serves to reinforce, so the market’s response will come down to whether the language suggests further cuts are possible or unlikely at this stage.
Ahead of the Fed meeting, US data for retail sales and industrial production are due.
The Banks of Japan and England follow on Thursday with their own policy meetings.
China will release August industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment numbers on Monday.
New Zealand reports its June quarter GDP on Wednesday.
The economic highlight in Australia next week will be the release of the RBA minutes.
On the local stock front, Thursday brings the quarterly expiry of ASX index options and SPI futures and options. On Friday changes to S&P/ASX indices, announced last Friday, become effective.
New Hope Corp ((NHC)), Kathmandu ((KMD)), Brickworks ((BKW)) and Premier Investments ((PMV)) report earnings next week.
The ex-dividend season rolls on into October. We have passed the peak of daily numbers, but there are plenty to get through yet, including next week.
