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Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) Inc, which has offered to buy smaller rival Rite Aid, is likely to
report second-quarter sales below analysts' average estimate, according to Thomson Reuters
StarMine. The drug store operator said that the process of gaining regulatory approval for the
$9.4 billion deal, which would merge the No. 1 and No. 3 U.S. drugstore chains by store count,
is proceeding as anticipated. Analysts have expressed skepticism about the deal receiving
approval from antitrust regulators, saying the combined company would corner a big share of the
market in several regions in the absence of independent pharmacies.
The U.S. trade deficit is expected to have widened in February as a rise in imports outpaced a
rebound in exports, pointing to lackluster economic growth in the first quarter. Exports have
been hurt by a strong dollar and weak overseas demand. According to a Reuters survey, the trade
gap likely increased to $46.2 billion in February from $45.7 billion in January. (0830/1230)
Separately, the Institute for Supply Management is expected to say that its index of
non-manufacturing activity in March rose to 54 from 53.4 in February. (1000/1400)
Chicago Fed President Charles Evans speaks on current economic conditions and monetary policy
before the 2016 Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) Asian Investment Conference in Hong Kong. (0100/0500)
Canada's trade deficit is expected to have widened to C$900 million in February from C$660
million in January. (0830/1230)
Canada's fifth largest bank Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce holds annual shareholder meeting
in Vancouver. The impact of the oil price slump will be in focus after the bank reported a sharp
rise in losses from bad energy sector loans in the first quarter.
Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Wilkins will give a speech in Vancouver on the
topic of China's economic transition and what it means for Canada. As China is a major consumer
of commodities, investors will look for insight on what impact the slowdown in the world's
second-largest economy could have on Canada's resource sector. (1545/1945)
Chile's IMACEC economic activity index, encompassing about 90 percent of the economy tallied in
gross domestic product figures, likely rose 2.4 percent in February from the same month a year
ago, central bank data is expected to show. (0830/1230)
GMF - LIVECHAT on the U.S. economy with Sharon Snow
A principal at U.S. investment adviser Metropolitan Capital Strategies LLC, Sharon Snow will
give a reading of the U.S. economy, report on her clients' positioning in markets and take
questions from the forum members. (1000/1400) To join the Global Markets Forum, click here