Markets Will Also Focus Their Attentions

Fundamental News: Today's highlight; Nonfarm Payrolls + Unemployment Rate (U.S, 13:30 GMT) Unemployment Rate (CAD, 12:00 GMT) Retail Sales (MoM) (EUR, 10:00 GMT) New unemployment claims in the U.S. fell to a lower level than most experts had expected, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department. Initial claims for unemployment came in at a seasonally adjusted level of 367,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 379,000. U.S. labor productivity increased by slightly less than expected in the fourth quarter of 2011. According to statistics released Thursday by the Labor Department, worker productivity increased by 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter compared to a revised 1.9 percent increase in the third quarter. On the other hand, Federal Reserve ...

Fundamental News: Today’s Highlights: • ECB President Draghi Speaks (EUR, 11:25 GMT) • Initial Jobless Claims (U.S, 13:30 GMT) • Retail Sales (MoM) (GB, 09:30 GMT) • ECB Monthly Report (EUR, 09:00 GMT) According to figures released Wednesday by the U.S Labor Department, Prices of goods imported into the U.S. rose less than forecast in November. The import-price index climbed 0.7 percent, the first increase in four months and followed a 0.5 percent drop in October. In Canada, manufacturing sales dropped by 0.8 percent in October, while economist were expecting a decline of 0.6% based reported signs of a decrease in exports in October. Additional news is that the Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Republican senators on Wednesday the Fed can't and won't provide bailout funds to ...

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK United States The steady stream of disappointing data releases continued this week. Friday's PCE report shows that household spending started Q2 on a weak note. Meanwhile, slumping core capital goods orders highlights a continued softening in manufacturing activity. Foreign factors - including the European debt crisis, discord in the Middle East and slowing growth in China - are all contributing to this spring slump. However, as lending conditions improve and positive momentum continues in the job market, there are still plenty of reasons to remain optimistic about the recovery. Canada Despite ongoing focus internationally on developments in Europe, the week in Canadian financial markets was relatively quiet. In turn, gyrations were small for S&P/ ...