Economic Calendar - Currencies

In New Zealand, the business confidence index is designed to provide a snapshot of business opinions regarding the expected future state of their business and economy overall. The survey covers around 700 respondents. The Net index is calculated by subtracting the percentage number of businesses that expect that the economic situation improves from the number that expect decline.

In Australia, private sector credit refers to the month-over-month change of credit extended to the economy's private sector for housing, personal and business expenditures. It includes securitizations.

In Australia, Export Prices correspond to the rate of change in the prices of goods and services sold by residents of that country to foreign buyers. Export Prices are heavily affected by exchange rates.

In Australia, Import Prices correspond to the rate of change in the prices of goods and services purchased by residents of that country from, and supplied by, foreign sellers. Import Prices are heavily affected by exchange rates.

In China, the NBS Manufacturing Purchasing Manager Index measures the performance of the manufacturing sector and is derived from a survey of more large-scale, state-owned companies. The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index is based on five individual indexes with the following weights: New Orders (30 percent), Output (25 percent), Employment (20 percent), Suppliers’ Delivery Times (15 percent) and Stock of Items Purchased (10 percent), with the Delivery Times index inverted so that it moves in a comparable direction. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion of the manufacturing sector compared to the previous month; below 50 represents a contraction; while 50 indicates no change. .

In China, the Non-Manufacturing purchasing managers index survey is based on data collected from a representative panel of 1200 enterprises from the non-manufacturing sector. The survey includes ten questions on business activity, new orders, new export orders, in hand orders index, stock, intermediate input price, subscription price, employment, supplier delivery time, and business activities expectation. For each question, the diffusion index is calculated. As there’s no integrated PMI, the business activity index is usually used to reflect the overall changes in non-manufacturing sector. A PMI reading above 50 percent indicates expansion from the previous month, while below 50 indicates contraction.

In Australia, housing credit refers to the month-over-month change of credit extended to the economy's private sector for housing expenditures. It includes securitisations.

In Australia, private sector credit refers to the month-over-month change of credit extended to the economy's private sector for housing, personal and business expenditures. It includes securitizations.

In China, the NBS Comprehensive Purchasing Manager Index measures the performance of the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion of the overall economic trend compared to the previous month; below 50 represents a contraction; while 50 indicates no change.

In China, the Caixin Manufacturing PMI Purchasing Managers' Index measures the performance of the manufacturing sector and is derived from a survey of private 430 industrial companies. The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index is based on five individual indexes with the following weights: New Orders (30 percent), Output (25 percent), Employment (20 percent), Suppliers’ Delivery Times (15 percent) and Stock of Items Purchased (10 percent), with the Delivery Times index inverted so that it moves in a comparable direction. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion of the manufacturing sector compared to the previous month; below 50 represents a contraction; while 50 indicates no change.

Coincident Index correlates with the business cycle, and is used to identify the current state of the economy. In general, increasing coincident index shows that the economy is in an expansion phase, and decreasing coincident index reflects that the economy is in a contraction phase. The index is calculated using month-over-month percentage changes in 11 leading indicators, 11 coincident indicators, and 6 lagging indicators.

In Japan, construction orders data refer to the value of new orders for construction work received during the month by 50 major constructors. Figures refer to the value of original contracts and construction for own use but not the value of subcontracted orders. .

In Japan, the Leading Composite Index consists of 12 indexes such as account inventory ratios, machinery orders, stock prices and other leading economic indicators. The index anticipates changes in the direction of the Japanese economy in the coming months. In general, increase in the index reflects that the economy is in an expansion phase, and decreasing coincident index reflects that the economy is in a contraction phase. The index is used to make official judgement on when the business cycle begins and ends.

In Japan, housing starts refers to the year-on-year change in volume of new housing construction started.

In Japan, the Monthly Consumer Confidence survey data is collected by direct visit and covers about 4,700 households consisting of more than two persons. The questionnaire covers four subjects: consumer perceptions of overall livelihood, income growth, employment and willingness to buy durable goods. For each subject an index based on the respondents’ evaluation of what they consider the prospects to be over the next six months is created. The Consumer Confidence Index is the simple average of the four consumer perception indexes. A score above 50 indicates optimism, below 50 shows lack of confidence and 50 indicates neutrality.

Turkey's major exports are: machinery and transport equipment (31 percent of total exports), of which road vehicles (15 percent) and electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances (6 percent); manufactured goods (25 percent), of which textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles (7 percent), iron and steel (6 percent) and manufactures of metals (4 percent); miscellaneous manufactured articles (18 percent), of which articles of apparel and clothing accessories (10 percent); food and live animals (9 percent), of which fruits and vegetables (4 percent); chemicals and related products (6 percent); and gold,non-monetary (4 percent). Turkey's main export partners were: Germany (10 percent of total exports); the UK, the UAE, Iraq and the US (6 percent each); Italy (5 percent); France and Spain (4 percent each).

The Turkish trade balance has been in deficit since 1947. Turkey major exports are road vehicles, textiles, iron and steel, clothing and food, while imports were machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, mineral fuels and lubricants and chemicals. The biggest trade deficits were recorded with China, Russia, Germany, South Korea, Switzerland, India, Iran and Japan; and the largest surpluses were recorded with Iraq, the UAE, the UK, Israel, Syria, Northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan.

In Switzerland, the KOF Swiss Economic Institute economic barometer measures the level of optimism that people who run companies have about the performance of the economy and how they feel about their organizations’ prospects. The KOF economic barometer is based on a multi-sectoral design with three modules. The 2014 version comprises 219 indicator variables, which are combined based on statistically determined weights. The most important module is GDP, which excludes construction and banking sectors and accounts for more than 90% of Swiss GDP.