Important Events This Week May 27-31

This week’s series of main events will mostly come from Japan, the United States, Germany, and Canada. So if you are trading any of each respective country’s currency, check out some of this week’s important events, starting with:

Event: BoJ Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes – Japan

Date: May 26, 2013

Time: 23:50am (GMT)

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

Happening on Monday morning in Japan is the release of the Bank of Japan’s Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes. While the country is not expected to make any changes in its interest rate, it is still important to see what the BoJ’s outlook of the economy is. Currently the central bank is aiming to reach its inflation target of 2% in two years, which think tanks say is close to impossible.

Event: Consumer Confidence (May) – United States

Date: May 28, 2013

Time: 2:00pm (GMT)

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

Although the US continues to struggle to revive its ailing economy, it has seen bright spots in some areas. Consumer Confidence, for example, has been positive so far since late 2011. Analysts expect it to rise from April’s 68.1 to 71.0 in May, which would be the highest it has been so far this year.

Event: Unemployment Rate & Change (May) – Germany

Date: May 29, 2013

Time: 7:55am (GMT)

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

Like most of its neighbours in the Eurozone, Germany also struggles with unemployment. Although it has seen a considerable change to 4K in April from 13K in March, analysts expect it to rise a little by 5K in May. If analysts’ predictions are proven to be true, it means that Germany’s unemployment woes are far from over.

As for the unemployment rate, analysts expect it to remain at 6.9% in May.

Event: CPI (YoY, May) - Germany

Date: May 29, 2013

Time: 12:00pm (GMT)

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

The Consumer Price Index is a measure of the change in the price of consumer goods. Previously, Germany’s CPI has seen a 1.1% change. Analysts expect it to rise by 1.3% in May.

Event: BoC Interest Rate Decision

Date: May 29, 2013

Time: 2:00pm (GMT)

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

While the Bank of Canada is not expected to make any changes in its interest rate, the rate statement that follows after the announcement could provide insights into the BoC’s outlook of its economy in general.