Investing.com - Heading into the final week of the year, trading volumes are expected to remain light as many traders already closed books due to the holiday period, reducing liquidity in the market and increasing volatility.
The U.S. is to release key reports on consumer confidence, pending home sales and jobless claims in the week ahead, as market players look for further indications on the strength of the economy and the future path of U.S. rate hikes.
Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets in the coming week:
1. U.S. consumer confidence
The Conference Board, a market research group, is to publish data on December consumer confidence at 10:00AM ET on Tuesday, with market players expecting the index to inch up to 93.6 from 90.4 a month earlier, which was the lowest reading since November 2014.
2. U.S. pending home sales
The National Association of Realtors is to release data on November pending home sales at 10:00AM ET on Wednesday. The report is expected to show pending home sales rose 0.5% last month, after inching up 0.2% in October.
3. U.S. initial jobless claims
The U.S. is to release a weekly report on initial jobless claims at 8:30AM ET Thursday, amid expectations for an increase of 7,000 to 274,000 in the week ending December 25.
4. Chicago PMI
Market research group Kingsbury International will publish data on its Chicago purchasing managers’ index for December at 9:45AM ET Thursday. The index is forecast to improve to 49.7 this month from 48.7 a month earlier.
A reading above 50.0 indicates expansion, below indicates contraction.
5. Chinese PMI
China is to release reports on manufacturing and service sector activity from the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing during Asian hours on Friday.
The official China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index is forecast to inch up to 49.9 in December from 49.6 in the preceding month, which was the lowest level since August 2012.
A reading below 50.0 indicates industry contraction.
Stay up-to-date on all of this week's economic events by visiting: http://www.investing.com/economic-calendar/