It was a busy weekend for the financial markets as Gold gained and the US Dollar dropped to the lowest level in a month after Lawrence Summers withdrew from consideration as the next Federal Reserve chairman before the central bank meets this week to decide on stimulus. Also on the move was Crude Oil, as it capped its biggest weekly drop since July as the U.S. and Russia held talks on a plan for Syria to surrender chemical weapons to avert a strike that could stoke Middle East tensions.

The focus should now shift to the much anticipated Federal Reserve meeting and whether they will begin tapering. Equity investors have taken steps to reduce risk ahead of the announcement with rising volume and buying activity on bearish S&P puts in the options market. A surprise from the Fed should have a strong impact on the global financial markets. Monday

9:15 AM   US   industrial production

1:30 PM – IQ Room – Advance concepts with Joe Rios

Tuesday

4:30 AM   GB   producer price index and CPI

8:30 AM   US   consumer price index

1:30 PM   IQ Room – Advance concepts with Joe Rios

Wednesday

8:30 AM   US   housing starts

2:00 PM   US   FOMC forecasts him and meeting announcement

6:45 PM   NZ   GDP

7:50 PM   JP    merchandise trade

Thursday

4:30 AM   GB   retail sales

8:30 AM   US   jobless claims

10:00 AM   US   existing home sales and Philly Fed survey

1:30 PM   IQ Room – Advance concepts with Joe Rios

Friday

8:30 AM   CA   CPI