It’s a slow week for Canadian economic data with two releases from Statistics Canada coming at the end of the week.

On Friday, StatsCan reases gross domestic product figures for December, 2006. Economists forecast a 0.4% increase, compared with a 0.2% rise a month earlier.

StatsCan also issues current account figures for the fourth quarter, 2006. A $6.1 billion surplus is expected, compared with $5.1 billion in the previous quarter.

South of the border

On Tuesday, the U.S. Commerce Department reports durable goods orders for January. Economists forecast a 2.5% drop, compared with a 2.9% rise the previous month.

Meanwhile the U.S. Conference Board issues its results of its consumer confidence survey for February. A reading of 109 is expected, down from 110.3 the previous month.

Also, the U.S. National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales statistics for January. Economists forecast sales of 6.25 million, up 0.4% from the previous month.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Commerce Dept. releases new home sales figures for January. Economists forecast sales of 1.08 million homes, a 3.1% decline from the previous month.

On Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Dept. reports on personal income and spending for January. Economists forecast a 0.3% rise in income and a 0.4% increase in spending.

Commerce also releases vehicle sales data for February. Economists forecast sales of 16.2 million vehicles, compared with 16.7 million vehicles in the previous month.

Corporate earnings

Bank earnings season continues this week, with Laurentian Bank of Canada reporting Q1 results on Tuesday. CIBC, Bank of Montreal, and National Bank of Canada report Thursday. Royal Bank reports its Q1 results on Friday.

Other companies due to release quarterly earnings include:

  • OPTI Canada Inc.;
  • Clearwater Seafoods Income Fund;
  • Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust;
  • Target Corp.;
  • CBS Corp.;
  • Xantrex Technology Inc.;
  • Federated Department Stores Inc.;
  • H.J. Heinz Co.;
  • Torstar Corp.;
  • MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.;
  • Wescast Industries Inc.;
  • March Networks Corp.;
  • Progress Energy Trust;
  • ShawCor Ltd.;
  • Sprint Nextel Corp.;
  • Dell Inc.;
  • GMP Capital Trust;
  • Fluor Corp.;
  • DataMirror Corp.;
  • Talisman Energy Inc.;
  • Vermilion Energy Trust ;
  • Tundra Semiconductor Corp.; and
  • Gap Inc.