On Wednesday, Statistics Canada reports on building permits in March. Economists expect an increase of 2.8% from the previous month.

Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and senior deputy governor Paul Jenkins appear before the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, Ottawa.

On Friday, StatsCan releases its labour force survey for April. Economists expect the unemployment rate to rise to 8.3% from 8%; job losses are forecast to come in at 50,000.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports on housing starts in April. Economists expect 140,000 starts, annualized.

U.S. and overseas

On Monday, the U.S. Commerce Department reports on construction spending in March. Economists expect a drop of 1.5%.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Institute of Supply Management reports on its services index for April. Economists expect a reading of 42.

On Wednesday, the ADP employment report is expected to show the U.S. economy lost 645,000 private sector jobs in April.

On Thursday, the U.S. government releases results of regulatory stress tests for top 19 U.S. banks, Washington.

U.S. Department of Labour reports on initial jobless claims for the week ended May 2. Economists expect 635,000 claims.

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board reports on consumer credit in March. Economists expect a drop of US$3.8 billion.

The European Central Bank and Bank of England make interest rate announcements.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Labour releases employment data for April. Economists expect non-farm payrolls to fall by 610,000; the jobless rate is expected to climb to 8.9% from 8.5%.

Corporate earnings

On Monday, Boralex Power Income Fund reports first-quarter results, as does Linamar Corp., Loews Corp., and Sprint Nextel Corp.

On Tuesday, Kinross Gold Corp. reports first-quarter results as does Liquor Stores Income Fund, Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Molson Coors Brewing Co., WestJet Airlines Ltd., and Yamana Gold Inc.

On Wednesday, Agrium Inc. reports dirst-quarter, as does Cisco Systems Inc., Prudential Financial, Sunoco Inc., and Torstar Corp.

Cossette Communication Group Inc. reports second-quarter results.

On Thursday, Great-West Lifeco Inc. reports first-quarter results, as does Allstate Corp, BCE Inc., Eldorado Gold Corp., Manulife Financial Corp., Nasdaq OMX Group Inc., Sun Life Financial Inc., and Thomson Reuters Corp.

On Friday, GMP Capital Trust reports first-quarter results, as does Kingsway Financial Services Inc., Northgate Minerals Corp., and Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund.

IE