The Markit PMI survey for the US is set to highlight the damage from the coronavirus outbreak on the world's largest economy, with forecasts suggesting the private sector activity contracted at a record pace in April. In addition, the March durable goods orders report will probably show the steepest fall in demand for US manufactured goods since August 2014, while the final reading of Michigan Consumer Sentiment is expected to come in even weaker than initially thought. Other notable publications include existing and new home sales, Chicago Fed National Activity Index, and the weekly jobless report.
On the corporate front, the first-quarter earnings season continues, with around 500 US companies publishing their results and updating guidance on full-year expectations. Earnings reports to watch include Amazon, American Airlines, American Express, AT&T, Boeing, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Eli Lilly and Co., IBM, Intel, Netflix, PayPal, Philip Morris Inc, Procter & Gamble, Snap, Texas Instruments, Union Pacific, Verizon, Visa and 3M.
Elsewhere in America, key economic data to follow include Canada retail trade, inflation and new housing prices, Mexico retail sales and economic activity, and Brazil business confidence and current account.
Across the Atlantic, the UK will be publishing flash Markit PMIs, inflation data, retail trade, unemployment rate, public sector net borrowing and CBI gauges for factory orders and business optimism. The PMI survey should point to a record deterioration in private sector business conditions during April due to the coronavirus pandemic, while March's retail sales will most likely post their biggest monthly decline since the series began in 1996.
Elsewhere in Europe, the Eurozone's flash Markit PMIs are seen pointing to the steepest contraction in the bloc’s manufacturing sector for 11 years and the sharpest fall ever in service activity, as several countries in the region stepped up business closures and social distancing measures in April. Other key economic data include: the Eurozone flash consumer confidence, trade balance and current account; Germany investor, business and consumer morale; France business confidence; Spain foreign trade; and Italy factory orders. Also, central banks in Russia and Turkey are expected to slash interest rates when they meet next week.
The People's Bank of China will provide an update on its new loan prime rate (LPR) on Monday, which was set at 4.05 percent on March 20th amid widespread disruptions to businesses and activity from the coronavirus crisis. In Japan, important releases include flash Jibun Bank PMIs, trade balance and inflation data, while in South Korea investors will turn their attention to the advance estimate of first-quarter GDP.
The Reserve Bank of Australia will be releasing the minutes of its latest monetary policy meeting. On the economic data front, investors will focus on CommBank flash PMIs amid lockdowns and business closures due to the pandemic. Other highlights for the Asia-Pacific region include: New Zealand first-quarter inflation rate and Services NZ PSI; Thailand trade balance; Singapore inflation, jobless rate and industrial output; and Malaysia inflation rate.