The Business News Week Ahead

Data that will pick up March's virus effects will be packed at the end of the week. German manufacturers' orders for February open the week on Monday and weakness going into the crisis is expected. Japanese household spending has also been consistently weak, and further contraction in February is the call. On Tuesday the Reserve Bank of Australia will make a scheduled announcement, one that isn't expected to lead to any further rate cuts. Japanese machine orders will be posted on Wednesday and February weakness is expected. Thursday will see the latest jobless claims report from the US amid expectations for yet another giant jump. Canada's labour market report for March will follow on Thursday while Friday's key data will be consumer and producer prices from China and the latest indications on economic conditions in the country. Note that due to virus disruptions, the UK National Statistics Office is bringing forward release time for market-sensitive releases, to 7:00 a.m. local time from 9:30 a.m. This effects monthly GDP and industrial production, both for Thursday.