Investing.com - In the week ahead, market players will be turning their attention to Wednesday’s minutes of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting for fresh indications on the prospects of a December rate hike.
Investors will also be looking ahead to U.S. data on inflation and building permits for further clues on the strength of the economy.
Preliminary data on Japanese third quarter growth and a monetary policy announcement by the Bank of Japan will also be in focus.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
1. FOMC meeting minutes
Investors will be focusing on minutes of the October Federal Reserve meeting due on Wednesday at 2:00PM Eastern Time, or 7:00PM in London.
The Fed left interest rates unchanged following its meeting last month, as widely expected, but surprised the market with a hawkish statement, which included a direct reference to its next policy meeting.
Recent comments by Fed officials, including Janet Yellen, have bolstered expectations the U.S. central bank will raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade when it meets next month.
2. U.S. October inflation figures
The Commerce Department will publish inflation figures for October at 8:30AM ET Tuesday.
The consensus forecast is that the report will show consumer prices rose 0.2% last month, after falling 0.2% in September. Core inflation is forecast to increase 0.2%, after gaining 0.2% a month earlier.
Weak inflation, due largely to lower oil prices, has been one of the key reasons for the Fed’s reluctance to raise interest rates so far this year.
3. U.S. housing data for October
Market players looked ahead to reports on the U.S housing sector due at 8:30AM ET on Wednesday.
The Commerce Department is expected to report that building permits rose 3.1% to 1.150 million in October, while housing starts are forecast to decline 3.9% to 1.162 million.
Fed Chair Yellen said recently that a December rate hike was a "live possibility" if justified by upcoming economic data.
4. BoJ policy announcement
The Bank of Japan's latest monetary policy announcement is due during Asian morning hours on Thursday. The BoJ is widely expected to keep policy steady despite recent chatter that it could expand the size of its monthly bond-buying program.
Third-quarter growth data due on Monday is expected to reveal that Japan's economy shrank 0.1% in the three months to September, maintaining pressure on policymakers to support the world's third largest economy.
5. U.K. CPI & retail sales
The U.K. Office for National Statistics will release data on consumer price inflation for October at 9:30AM in London on Tuesday. Analysts expect consumer prices to fall 0.1%, underlining concerns over deflationary pressures.
Bank of England officials have said recently they expect inflation to hover around zero for much of this year, before accelerating back to target during 2016 and 2017.
On Thursday, the ONS will produce a report on October retail sales at 9:30AM, which will offer further clues on the strength of the economy and the timing of a rate hike by the BOE.