Plenty of investor news flow this week to give more information on the health of the global economy

A very big week to come for company earnings and economic news. So far so good for the US Q1 earnings season with nearly three quarters beating analyst estimates. Corporate America is in good health and it needs to be to overcome all the negative news flow from Europe. The UK is back in recession and much of the eurozone is in serious trouble.

For all the earning due this week go to http://www.reuters.com/finance/markets/earnings

Major Economic news

May 1st

China and Japan PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) manufacturing data – a good indicator of economic health. Will China continue to head for a soft landing?

US car sales

May 2nd

European PMI manufacturing data

US ADP private sector jobs report – a useful heads up to the main event, Friday’s non-farm payrolls.

May 3rd

European Central Bank eurozone interest rate decision

May 4th

US Non Farm payrolls employment data for April – one of the most important data points of all which has a significant impact on share prices given that it gives a strong indicator for the health of the US economy. March’s number disappointed. Expectations are for around a gain of 150,000 jobs.

Contrarian Investor UK