The Business News Week Ahead

Big news of the week will be early indications on May activity from a Thursday run of purchasing managers surveys, first from Japan followed by France, Germany, the Eurozone and the US. These will offer initial evidence on the economic effects of limited reopenings underway in some countries including France and Germany. US housing data will also be worth watching to see how badly April shutdowns pulled starts and permits lower on Tuesday and existing home sales down on Thursday. April damage in the UK will also be posted with the labour market report on Tuesday and retail sales on Thursday; April damage in Japan will include merchandise trade on Thursday and consumer prices on Friday. But the biggest news of all will be the usual: US jobless claims on Thursday amid expectations for yet another week of paralyzing losses.