Business News Week Ahead

 Market-moving numbers open Monday in China with the November update on the nation's mighty trade situation; expectations are pointing to prodigious growth once again centered in exports. Chinese consumer price data follow on Wednesday and here, in line with global price trends, only limited strength is the expectation. Germany data could move the markets in the week beginning on Monday with the nation's industrial production report followed on Tuesday with analyst expectations as compiled by December's ZEW report ‒ across the board slowing is expected. Central bank meetings are set for Wednesday with the Bank of Canada followed on Thursday by the European Central Bank; no rate moves are expected but the banks' additional tools could offer some surprises. Japanese machinery orders, set for Tuesday, are always worth watching, however weak they've been, and likewise for Thursday's US consumer prices where weakness has been the uninterrupted theme. UK data, given the very final denouement of Brexit, will be coming to even sharper focus with Thursday to see GDP data for the month of October. The week ends with consumer sentiment on Friday and how US psychology has or has not been affected by vaccines and elections.