Busy US economic agenda

In the UK, in a week shortened by a holiday on Monday, the number of releases will be limited. The release of some house market data is scheduled via the Nationwide House prices statistics for March and data relating to the number of loans for house purchases for February. Of further interest, we shall also have the final Gross Domestic Product figure for the fourth quarter of 2007, with the Current Account data for the same period.

Similarly, in the Euro area, it will be a quiet week in terms of economic releases. The week here will be focused around the January Industrial Orders figures, together with the Current Account statistics for that month. The market will also look towards the Eurozone's Retail Purchasing Managers Index for March.

On the other hand, the US economic agenda has an eventful week scheduled. Here we will have a number of consumer confidence indicators, house market data, including existing and new home sales for February, and the Durable Goods Orders data. The Initial and Continuing Jobless Claims figures for March will feature, together with data relating to Personal Spending and Income for February and Personal Consumption during the fourth quarter of 2007. Annualised fourth quarter GDP figures should wrap up the week.

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