Looking Ahead: July 15 through July 19, 2013

The Bank of Japan left its key monetary policies unchanged and used the word ‘recover’ for the first time since January 2011. Investors focused on the FOMC minutes and Chairman Ben Bernanke’s remarks on Wednesday. They combined to send the U.S. dollar down and equities up. The Bank of Canada meets for the first time under its new governor, Steven Poloz. Minutes from the Bank of England’s meeting earlier this month also are expected. China releases its June industrial production and retail sales numbers along with the highly anticipated estimate of first quarter growth. Elsewhere, the UK posts producer and consumer price data along with retail sales and its labour market report for June.