On Wednesday, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and senior deputy governor Paul Jenkins appear before the House of Commons finance committee.

Meanwhile, Statistics Canada reports on the gross domestic product for March. Economists forecast a month-over-month increase of 0.2%.

Separately, StatsCan reports on industrial product and raw materials prices for March. Economists forecast an 0.8-per-cent increase in the industrial product price index and a 2-per-cent increase in the raw materials price index from the same period a year ago.

On Thursday, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and senior deputy governor Paul Jenkins appear before the Senate committee on banking, trade and commerce.

U.S. and overseas

On Wednesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board makes its interest rate announcement. Economists expect the Fed to cut its benchmark rate to 2% from 2.25%.

Overseas, the Bank of Japan holds a one-day monetary policy meeting and also releases its twice-yearly outlook report on the economy and prices. BOJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa to hold a news conference.

On Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Department reports on personal income and spending for March. Economists forecast increases of 0.4% in income and 0.2% in spending.

Overseas, the Bank of England releases a financial stability report.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Labour issues its jobs report. Economists expect the unemployment rate to rise to 5.2%, from 5.1%, and non-farm payrolls are expected to fall by 78,000 jobs.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service begins sending the first of more than 130 million economic stimulus payments and expects to complete the first round of payments by early July.

Corporate earnings

On Monday, Akita Drilling Ltd. releases its first-quarter results, as does Canadian Oil Sands Trust, Cott Corp., Silver Wheaton Corp., West Fraser Timber Co., Loews Corp., MasterCard Inc., and RadioShack Corp.

Mean while Visa Inc. reports its second-quarter results.

On Tuesday, WestJet Airlines reports Q1 results as does Shoppers Drug Mart, Petro-Canada, Rogers Communications, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Ballard Power Systems, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Canfor Pulp Income Fund, Catalyst Paper Corp., Inmet Mining, BP PLC, Royal Dutch Shell, Daimler AG, Deutsche Bank, and Avon Products Inc.

Also, Jean Coutu Group releases its third-quarter results.

On Wednesday, Brookfield Asset Management reports its Q1 results, as does .Canam Group, TSX Group Inc., Torstar Corp., Loblaw Cos., Talisman Energy, TimberWest Forest Corp., Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund, Fraser Papers, Progress Energy Trust, Kellogg Co., Kraft Foods, and Volkswagen AG.

Cossette Communications reports second-quarter results as does Starbucks.

Procter & Gamble reports third-quarter earnings.

On Thursday, Tim Hortons reports Q1 earnings, along with Centerra Gold, Eldorado Gold Corp., Fairfax Financial Holdings, Fortis Inc., Great West Lifeco, SNC-Lavalin Group, Northbridge Financial Corp., Northgate Minerals, Morguard REIT, Eastman Kodak Co., Exxon Mobil Corp., Imperial Oil, and Thomson Reuters Corp.

On Friday, Nortel Networks reports its Q1 results, as does Canfor Corp., IGM Financial, RioCan REIT, Vermilion Energy Trust, and Chevron.