The Business News Week Ahead

Sentiment readings are a key of the coming week, including Tuesday's Ifo and Friday's GfK reports from Germany, US consumer confidence on Tuesday, France's business climate indicator on Thursday, and EC economic sentiment on Friday. Given stubbornly high infection rates in both the US and Europe, no more than limited improvement is the general expectation. The status of recovery in US manufacturing, which is still climbing out of the crisis hole, will be updated on Wednesday with durable goods orders amid expectations for another month of improvement, though no improvement is the expectation for US goods trade to be posted on Friday. Holding prior improvement, following blistering gains, is the call for US new home sales on Tuesday which in prior reports have shown no virus effects. Indications on August retail sales in the UK will be offered with Tuesday's CBI distributive trades report with indications on Switzerland's general outlook posted on Friday with KOF leading indicators. Recovery for French consumer goods consumption is expected to slow in another report on Friday.