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A surge in demand for automobiles likely buoyed U.S. retail sales in July, which could offer
fresh evidence that economic growth got off to a solid start in the third quarter and strengthen
expectations of an interest rate hike in September. The reading is likely to show an increase of
0.5 percent in July, compared to a 0.3 percent drop in the previous month. Meanwhile, the Labor
Department releases July import and export prices. Also, the number of Americans filing new
applications for unemployment benefits is expected to have steadied at 270,000, last week.
(0830/1230) Separately, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City issues Labor Market Conditions
Indicator for July.
Chip-equipment maker Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:AMAT) is expected to report a third-quarter profit below
analysts' average estimate. Analysts expect the company's foundry business to be hurt due to
lower spending by chipmakers.
Department store operator Kohl's Corp posts its second-quarter results. The company could lower
its full-year forecast, analysts warn, after first-quarter sales and profit were hurt by
colder-than-usual weather in February and West Coast port issues. Investors will look for
comments on back-to-school sales, and whether its efforts to integrate online and in-store
shopping are translating into higher sales.
Perfume maker Coty Inc made news in July, entering an agreement with Procter & Gamble to buy 43
brands including Wella and Clairol for $12.5 billion. A senior executive said last quarter
Coty's celebrity perfume business was a dying phenomena. The company's fourth-quarter revenue is
expected to miss estimates. Investors will look out for comments on the recent acquisition and
forecasts.
King Digital Entertainment Plc is expected to report a second-quarter profit below estimates.
The "Candy Crush Saga" creator is likely to have been hurt by a strong dollar. King has also
struggled to boost its bookings due to a lack of new releases. Investors will look for
commentary around new titles scheduled to be launched in the second half of the year.
El Pollo LoCo Holdings Inc is expected to report a second-quarter profit below analysts' average
estimates. The restaurant chain operator reported weak comparable sales and recorded the slowest
growth in customer traffic since its debut, in the first quarter, hurt by intense competition.
Investors will be looking if the weakness in comparable sales carried on in the second quarter
and if the company will cut its full-year forecast.
Canada's new home prices are forecast to have increased by 0.1 percent in June from a month
earlier. (0830/1230) Separately, Statistics Canada releases an inaugural Job Vacancy and Wage
Survey for the first quarter of 2015.
Canadian oil producer Crescent Point Energy Corp is expected to report a fall in second-quarter
profit, due to weak crude prices. The company bought smaller rival Legacy Oil for C$1.53 billion
in June, even though hedge fund and activist shareholder FrontFour Capital opposed the deal.
Crescent Point is now set to acquire privately held light oil producer Coral Hill Energy Ltd,
which operates in Alberta. Investors will look for comments on the company's production
forecast. They will also look for details on the company's capital budget.
Boutique investment bank Houlihan Lokey Inc makes it market debut with a likely valuation of
$1.5 billion. The IPO is expected to raise about $300 million at the mid-point of its price
range of $22-$24 per share. The offering comes nearly a year after rival Moelis & Co's listing
on the NYSE. Houlihan Lokey was a bankruptcy adviser to companies such as Enron Corp, Lehman
Brothers Holdings Inc, General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) and Washington Mutual Inc. Founded in 1972, the Los
Angeles-based firm had about 900 employees, with more than 125 managing directors. It had 193
clients, who paid $1 million or more in fees for the fiscal year ended March 31. Corporate
financing is the company's biggest business, accounting for more than half of its $680 million
annual revenue.
Mexico's central bank releases minutes of its July decision to hold borrowing costs at a record
low of 3 percent, and may hint at when it could begin hiking interest rates. Separately, Chile
is expected to keep the interest rate at 3.0 percent on competing concerns over a weak economy
and persistently high inflation.
LIVECHAT: FX Outlook - Dennis De Jong, managing director, UFX Markets
Find out what's in store for the major currency pairs for the rest of the summer and beyond,
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Forum, click here http://bit.ly/1kTxdKD
(All analysts' estimates are according to Thomson Reuters StarMine, unless mentioned otherwise)