Looking Ahead: November 19 through November 23, 2012

Markets in the past week were focused on political events in Japan, China, the U.S. and the Middle East where tensions between Gaza and Israel escalated. Economic data were mostly disappointing with both the Eurozone and Japan contracting in the third quarter. U.S. data for October were mostly lower than anticipated thanks to Hurricane Sandy. Next week, the Bank of Japan meets and the Bank of England releases the minutes of its meeting that took place earlier this month. Flash November manufacturing indexes highlight the week’s data — even though it is being released on Thursday — the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.