Data Watch - March 24th

CANADA
the number of Canadians receiving employment insurance rose over 4% in January, the fifth consecutive increase, up 21% YoY

US
Richmond Fed Manuf. index and OFHEO home prices at 10am

INTERNATIONAL
Bank of Israel has cut its interest rate to 0.50% and has started buying government debt, so it too is conducting Q.E.

European PMIs rebounded a bit in March, though remain at depressed levels (Eurozone Manufacturing PMI at 34)

French consumer spending in February surprised to the downside

UK inflation surprised to the upside (3.2% YoY) (currency depreciation not helping import prices)

Mervyn King apparently warned that the BoE may not use its full scope for QE, prompting, along with the CPI surprise, a big sell-off in gilts