Monetary policy statements from two major central banks will be published this Thursday, and the Dukascopy Economic Calendar takes a closer look at these and other events. I'm Elaine Stenson The first item on the schedule comes at quarter to eight in the morning, when the French Trade Balance for November is released. French exports showed a slight decline in October, but the trade deficit still went down as the imports fell at a faster pace. UK Trade Balance for November is out at 9:30 AM. Trade deficit narrowed in October from 10.1 billion pounds a month ago, as imports showed a stronger decline than exports. Euro Zone Economic Sentiment for December will be available at ten o'clock. The Index has been on the rise for the past seven months and now stands at its highest level in more than 2 years. German Industrial Production for November is due at 11. Production posted an unexpected drop in October, following a revised point 7% decrease a month ago. Bank of England will release its closely watched Monetary Policy Statement at noon. The interest rate has stood unchanged at point 5% since March 2009 even as the British economic recovery is picking up speed. The next item on the schedule comes at 12:30 PM GMT, and it is the US Challenger Job Cuts for December. 45.3 thousand jobs were cut in November, which is slightly less than 45.7 thousand the previous month. Another high importance Monetary Policy Statement, this time from the European Central Bank, is due at quarter to one. The policy makers left the interest rate unchanged during the December meeting after cutting it to a record-low level a month ago. Canadian Housing Starts for December are out at 1:15. Housing starts inched lower in November, having stood at 198 thousand a month ago. The closely watched weekly update on the US Jobless Claims is released at half past one. Initial claims fell by two thousand during the week ending December 28, while continuing claims went down by 98 thousand during the week ending December 21. Two news releases concerning the Canadian construction sector in November are scheduled at the same time, including New Housing Price Index. House prices showed a slight increase in October, following no change the previous month. Building Permits surprised on the upside in October as both residential and commercial permits posted a strong increase. UK BRC Retail Sales Monitor for December will be available at one minute past midnight. Same-store sales rose in November, albeit at a slower pace than the point 8% annual increase in October. And the last item on the schedule is Japanese Preliminary Leading Indicator for November, which is out at 5 AM. The Index came in stronger than expected in October, rising from 109.2 a month ago. These are the events to watch on Thursday, 9th of January. Check back in for the next run-down of news releases for Friday, but for now, goodbye.

• published: 08 Jan 2014
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