This week, comments from a round of Federal Reserve officials, along with U.S. trade data, could sway expectations for a June interest-rate increase. And in Japan, G-7 leaders will try to steer the global economy into safer waters.
MONDAY: Preliminary purchasing managers indexes for France, Germany and the eurozone should provide clues to whether the region’s first-quarter pickup has been sustained into the second quarter. Most economists doubt that is the case, with a WSJ economist survey forecasting a slight rise in the May eurozone composite PMI to 53.2, from 53.0 in April, below the first-quarter average and pointing to a modest easing of growth.
WEDNESDAY: The preliminary report on U.S. international trade in April could reinforce the view that the economy is expanding at a better rate this spring if it shows the trade gap narrowing.
