RBA officials front the microphones twice on Tuesday, a long list of ASX names trades ex-dividend across the week, and US inflation lands two days running.
As usual, this calendar comes to us from the experts at CommSec.
Monday September 7
ANZ job advertisements (August)
Ads rose 0.8% for the month in July.
US sharemarkets closed
American markets are shut for a public holiday.
Tuesday September 8
Westpac consumer sentiment (September)
The index sat at 88.9 in August.
NAB business confidence (August)
Confidence was -6 in July.
RBA Assistant Governor Sarah Hunter speaks
At the AFR Property Summit in Sydney.
RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser speaks
On the ABC’s 7.30 that evening.
US NFIB small business index (August)
The index read 99.8 in July.
Thursday September 10
Melbourne Institute inflation expectations (September)
Expectations ran at 4.9% in August.
ECB interest rate decision
A 25 basis point rise to 2.50% is expected.
US producer price index (August)
A rise of 0.4% for the month is forecast.
US existing home sales (August)
Sales of 3.99 million are tipped.
US weekly jobless claims
First-time claims for unemployment benefits.
Friday September 11
US consumer price index (August)
An annual rate of 3.4% is predicted.
University of Michigan consumer sentiment (September)
The index was 51.7 in August.
Key themes to watch
Rate clues from the RBA: CommSec’s James Gruber says Reserve Bank officials are the ones to watch this week, with investors listening to their public appearances for signals on where rates go ahead of the board’s meeting on 28 and 29 September. Assistant Governor Sarah Hunter speaks at the AFR Property Summit in Sydney on Tuesday, and Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser appears on the ABC’s 7.30 later the same evening. As at Thursday morning, 3 September, markets were pricing a 70% chance of a 25 basis point rise this month and had an increase fully priced by November.
A heavy ex-dividend week: Gruber counts a long list of ASX companies trading ex-dividend. Michael Hill, WT Financial, Adairs, HUB24, Beam Communications, Perseus, Super Retail, Enero, Pro Medicus and Alkane Resources go on Monday; BlueScope Steel, Peet, Mineral Resources, AUB Group, Saferoads, Motorcycle Holdings, Regis Healthcare, Smartgroup, NewsCorp, Dusk, Pepper Money and Channel Infrastructure on Tuesday; Bhagwan Marine, LGI, Summerset Group, IDP Education, IVE Group, Netwealth Group, Hearts and Minds Investments, Evolution Mining, Northern Star Resources, Genesis Minerals, IGO, Brambles, EVT and CSL on Wednesday; CTI Logistics, Breville, Globe, McMillan Shakespeare, Perpetual, SGH, XRF Scientific, Sky Network, Venus Metals, Sandfire Resources, Regis Resources, AMA, Spark New Zealand, NZME, Kogan, Nine Entertainment, Freightways and Infragreen Group on Thursday; and Sandon Capital, WiseTech, Cleanaway, CAR Group, Joyce and Ariadne on Friday.
US inflation takes centre stage: Gruber expects the American inflation numbers to set the tone, with producer prices due Thursday and consumer prices on Friday. His read is that investors will be looking for evidence that recent price pressures are sticking, and that the two readings are likely to shape near-term expectations for rates.
A light week for US earnings: Results are thin on the ground, with GameStop reporting Tuesday, Copart on Wednesday, Adobe on Thursday and Kroger on Friday.
Europe moves first: The European Central Bank is expected to raise its rates by 25 basis points to 2.50% on Thursday.
