MONDAY
With little economic news expected in the coming days, let's begin the first full trading week of the second quarter with a recap of first-quarter market returns.
S&P/TSX 500: up 3.4%
Dow: up 4.8%
Nasdaq: up 6%
S&P 500: up 5.6%
MSCI global stocks: up 2.7%
Hang Seng: down 1.5%
FTSE 100: up 6%
TUESDAY
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board releases minutes of its latest rate-setting meeting. What took place at the meeting will be of interest for a couple of reasons:
1. Whether dissenter Thomas Hoenig gains any backers. The Kansas City Fed chief has voted against the past two Fed decisions. If he gains allies, markets could be handed very different messages at future meetings.
2. Whether the U.S. central bank offers any more clues on when it will begin to raise borrowing costs from historic lows of near zero.
WEDNESDAY
Today, it's the central bank of Japan's turn to reveal how it plans to keep the economy growing. Last month, interest rates were kept at 0.1 per cent - where they've been since December, 2008. The bank also said it would double the size of a lending plan.
Also today: Statistics Canada releases February building permits at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Fed chairman Ben Bernanke speaks in Dallas.
THURSDAY
Central banks in Europe and England make policy announcements.
Japan releases trade and current account balances for February, machinery orders for February.
Germany releases industrial production for February.
EU releases February retail sales.
U.S. retailers report sales results for March.
FRIDAY
The Canadian economy is expected to have added about 25,000 jobs in March, while the jobless rate should be unchanged at 8.2 per cent. Today's report by Statistics Canada should show factories are hiring to keep up with demand, as the private sector continues to lead the recovery.
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