U.S. import prices are expected to have risen in March for the first time in eight months as the
cost of energy products increased and the dollar's rally fizzled. Rising import prices will add
to other signs of a pick-up in inflation, which is likely to be welcomed by U.S. Federal Reserve
officials. According to a Reuters survey of economists, import prices are estimated to have
risen 1.0 percent last month after slipping 0.3 percent in February. Export prices are expected
to have decreased 0.2 percent from February, when they fell 0.4 percent. (0830/1230) Separately,
the U.S. Treasury Department issues the budget report for March. (1400/1800)
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker, who has urged his colleagues to
"get on with" raising rates again, speaks in his district's hometown. Harker may once again
repeat his call for at least three hikes this year, including possibly at their next meeting at
the end of April. Investors will look for whether he's hardened this stance even further on the
back of another robust jobs report earlier this month. (0900/1300) Separately, Federal Reserve
Bank of San Francisco President John Williams speaks on U.S. monetary policy and the global
economic outlook before the Lendlt USA 2016 Conference in San Francisco. (1500/1900) Meanwhile,
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker speaks on "Economic Leadership in an
Uncertain World" before the Chancellor's Distinguished Lecture Series sponsored by the
University of North Carolina Wilmington's Cameron School of Business, in Wilimington.
(1600/2000)
Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) will host its annual F8 developer conference in San Francisco. Mark Zuckerberg will
deliver a keynote address on the first day of the two-day conference.
After getting a rebuke from Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK) Corp's board last year at the bank's annual
meeting, Chief Executive Gerald Hassell could face even more heat at this year's gathering. BNY
Mellon's shares are badly lagging the broader stock market. Its investment chief recently left
without explanation and long-time board member Wesley von Schack is stepping down as activist
hedge fund manager Trian Fund Management seems to be flexing its muscle behind the scenes.
An independent panel of experts to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will deliberate on
Clovis Oncology Inc's lung cancer drug. The drug, like a recently-approved rival treatment from
AstraZeneca Plc, aims to treat certain patients whose disease has worsened despite treatment.
FDA staff members questioned on Friday whether Clovis's drug was superior to existing treatments
and raised concerns about its safety profile. The FDA is slated to decide on the drug by June
28.
Bank of Nova Scotia will address concerns over its exposure to the oil and gas sector when it
holds its annual shareholder meeting in Calgary. Like other Canadian banks, Bank of Nova Scotia
reported a sharp hike in impaired loans to oil firms when it released first-quarter results last
month. Investors will be looking for an insight into how Canada's third biggest bank is
approaching spring borrowing base redeterminations with energy sector clients.
A three-day annual Society of Automotive Engineers conference will take place in Detroit,
Michigan. Separately, SIFMA Equity Market Structure Conference will feature panels with top
securities industry executives and regulators on a range of issues, from the fairness of the
markets to the ability of regulations to enhance stability and transparency of stock trading.
U.S. Senate Finance Committee holds hearing with officials from the Internal Revenue Service,
the Treasury and the Government Accountability Office, on protecting taxpayer information from
cyber criminals. Witnesses include IRS Commissioner John Koskinen and Chief Technology Officer
Terrance Millholland, apart from J. Russell George and Michael McKenney from the Treasury
Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Gene Dodaro and Gregory Wilshusen from the GAO.
Retail sales in Brazil are expected to have dropped in February, but at a slower pace than in
January. In the first month of the year, retail sales fell at their fastest annual pace in
nearly 13 years. Retail sales volumes are estimated to have declined 0.2 percent in February
compared with a fall of 1.5 percent in January. (0800/1200) Chile's central bank will announce
its rate decision. The bank is expected to hold the benchmark interest rate steady at 3.5
percent.
LIVECHAT - COMMODITIES CORNER with Nik Kalsi and Phil Carr, co-founders, The Gold & Silver Club
From copper to oil and everything in between, the Gold & Silver Club's Nik Kalsi and Phil Carr
will have you covered on the commodities markets. The Gold & Silver Club is an international
commodities trading, research and advisory group specializing in the precious metal, energy and
agriculture markets. (0600/1000) To join the Global Markets Forum, click here