North America
JPMorgan’s (JPM) strong results helped to steady nerves at the start of earnings season. Goldman Sachs (GS) and Citigroup (c) report today and expectations are high.
In terms of this week’s economics, the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book is released midweek, a few hours after Canada’s March inflation data. US retail sales are in view on Thursday.
Europe
Compared with the strong close in the US on Friday, Europe’s markets were only marginally higher this morning, and Germany’s DAX was slightly in negative territory approaching midday local time. Germany’s influential ZEW survey is released tomorrow amid ongoing anxiety about the country’s economy.
The UK’s March inflation data will be released on Wednesday, following jobs numbers on Tuesday.
Asia
Despite a rallying Wall Street on Friday, Asian markets started the week on a mixed footing today. Japan’s Nikkei was one of the best performing markets in percentage terms, but China’s indices were a touch softer. But the underlying optimism about a potential trade deal between the US and China remains to support sentiment in regional equities.
China’s gross domestic product for the first quarter is on view this week and that will prove another test of the recent rally.