Guide to today’s important data and events

Quite a handful of economic dockets scheduled for today and some with high volatility risks associated.

Data released so far 

• Australia – Unemployment rate for April declined to 5.7%. Full time employment declined by 9300, whereas part-time employment rose by 20,200. Participation rate declined to 64.8%.
• China – MNI business sentiment indicator declined to 50 from 50.5.

Upcoming      

• France – ILO unemployment for first quarter will be released at 5:30 GMT.
• UK – Retail sales report will be released at 8:30 GMT. Prior 2.7%, expected 2.5%.
• Euro Zone – Construction output for March will be announced at 9:00 GMT. ECB will release minutes at 11:30 GMT.
• Portugal – Portugal may release its current account balance for March.     
• United States – Chicago FED national activity index will be released at 12:30 GMT, along with weekly jobless claims report and Philadelphia FED manufacturing survey. FED’s Stanley Fischer will be speaking at 13:15 GMT. FED vice President William Dudley is scheduled to speak at 14:30 GMT. EIA will release natural gas inventory report at 14:30 GMT.
• Canada – Canada will release wholesale sales report at 12:30 GMT.