Investing.com - In the week ahead, investors will be focusing on Chinese third quarter economic growth data due on Monday amid lingering concerns over the health of the world's second biggest economy.
The outcome of Thursday’s European Central Bank meeting will also be in focus amid speculation the central bank could ramp up its monetary stimulus program.
Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
1. China third quarter GDP
China is scheduled to release data on third quarter gross domestic product at 3:00AM London time on Monday.
The report is expected to show the world's second largest economy grew 6.8% in the three months ended September 30, slowing from growth of 7.0% in the preceding quarter.
Beijing has set a growth target of "around 7.0%" in 2015 after the economy grew 7.4% in 2014, the slowest pace in 24 years.
2. U.S. housing data for September
Investors looked ahead to reports on the U.S housing sector due at 8:30AM Eastern Time on Tuesday for further clues on the strength of the economy and the future path of interest rates.
The Commerce Department is expected to report that housing starts rose 1.2% in September to 1.150 million, while building permits are forecast to drop 0.9% to 1.160 million.
Disappointing data last week on retail sales and manufacturing activity added to expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold off on raising interest rates until next year.
3. European Central Bank policy meeting
The European Central Bank's latest interest rate decision is due at 12:45PM London time, or 7:45AM ET, on Thursday, with most of the focus likely to be on President Mario Draghi's press conference 45 minutes after the announcement.
Speculation the central bank could ramp up its monetary stimulus program mounted after governing council member Ewald Nowotny said last week that additional measures to boost price growth in the euro zone are needed.
4. Bank of Canada rate decision
The Bank of Canada's latest interest rate decision is due at 10:00AM ET, on Wednesday. BOC Governor Stephen Poloz is widely expected to keep rates unchanged at 0.50%, in light of recently upbeat data after already cutting twice this year.
5. Euro zone PMIs
The euro zone is to publish preliminary data on manufacturing and service sector activity for October at 9:00AM in London on Friday. Market analysts expect the data to show a modest decline from a month earlier.
Ahead of the euro zone PMI's, France and Germany will release their own PMI reports at 8:00AM and 8:30AM respectively.