Key events for the week ahead - Westpac

Analysts at Westpac explained that in the week ahead, the domestic data highlight will be Jan employment, to see if the rapid pace of job creation can be sustained (Westpac forecast +15k jobs, 5.5% unemployment rate).

Key Quotes:

"The US focus will be Jan data on retail sales and consumer prices. If these continue to support US market pricing of >80% chance of yet another Fed rate rise on 21 March and commodity prices remain skittish (weakness in energy prices most notable), then AUD/USD should chop a little lower in the week ahead, trading mostly say 0.7700-0.7850.

Event risk: Japan holiday (Mon), Aust Jan NAB business confidence, UK Jan CPI (Tue), Aust Feb Westpac-MI consumer sentiment, Japan Q4 GDP, Bank of Thailand policy decision, US Jan CPI and retail sales (Wed), Aust Jan employment, Bank Indonesia policy decision, US Feb NAHB housing survey (Thu), RBA governor Lowe testifies, UK Jan retail sales, US Jan housing starts, US Feb consumer sentiment (Fri)."