Traders are pricing in another cut to Canadian interest rates this week, given two months of soft employment numbers. The Bank of Canada will make its announcement on interest rates on Tuesday morning.

The bank’s trendsetting target for the overnight rate stands at 2.25%.

There are no major economic releases in either Canada or the United States today.

Tuesday, in addition to the Bank of Canada’s interest rate decision, will also see the release of U.S. retail sales for March.

On Wednesday, Statistics Canada will release trade balance figures for February.

South of the border, the U.S. consumer price index for March will be revealed.
April 15

On Thursday, Traders will get to see Canadian manufacturing shipments data for February. As well the Bank of Canada will release its monetary policy report.

The week closes with U.S. housing starts and building permits for March, and the preliminary reading of consumer confidence for April by the University of Michigan.

Corporate earnings

On Wall Street, earnings season is in full swing. This week’s earnings spotlight will fall on three big technology companies.

Intel Corp. will start things off late Tuesday when it reports on its first quarter.

Intel stock closed at US$27.37 cents a share on the Nasdaq Thursday, down 1%.

Apple Computer Inc. reports its second quarter results after markets close on Wednesday.

International Business Machines Corp. will release its first quarter earnings on Thursday.

Falconbridge Ltd. and CI Fund Management Inc. are among the few Canadian companies that report their earnings next week.

CI reports on Wednesday, while Falconbridge will reveal is results on Friday.