Wall Street is closed on Monday night for George Washington’s birthday. Remarkably, George’s birthday always falls on a Monday. Bit like the Queen.
As to whether there’ll be any news on a breakthrough in trade negotiations by then is unclear. Given hints coming out of the White House suggest a 60-day extension to the tariff deadline is becoming more likely, one assumes not. We’ll just hear more of “going very well”.
If there is no news then the focus downunder next week will again be one of earnings reports. And hundreds of them. Strap in.
On the economic front, next week brings the December quarter wage price index, flash PMI readings for February and the January jobs numbers. The minutes of this month’s RBA meeting will be released and the governor will provide a mandatory testimony to parliament on Friday.
The minutes of the January Fed meeting are out next week along with US housing starts and sentiment, existing home sales, flash PMI and a catch-up on December durable goods.
Note also that as we head into by far the busiest week on the result season calendar, ex-dividends also start to mount, providing a daily starting handicap.
