The Week Ahead: Ben Bernanke Talks Monetary Policy, Crucial Holiday Quarter Kicks Off!

Monday kicks off the start of the year’s final quarter. It comes on a busy week filled with economic data that will end with a snapshot of the current job market.

Fed Chief Ben Bernanke gets the week going with a monetary policy speech on Monday followed by the release of September FOMC meeting minutes on Thursday.

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On Wednesday, President Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney will participate in a debate. There could be some economical tidbits that market watchers will cling to and react on Thursday.

During the week, also look for corporate news from earnings reports.

News from abroad will include China’s September manufacturing activity numbers and possible reports from the European Central Bank’s possible progress on the area’s debt crisis. On Thursday, the ECB will have a policy meeting.

Take a look at the week ahead.

Economic Data

Monday: SM September manufacturing PMI and August construction spending

Tuesday: September vehicle sales

Wednesday: ADP September jobs survey and ISM September non-manufacturing PMI

Thursday: Weekly jobless claims and August factory orders

Friday: September nonfarm payrolls and August consumer credit

Earnings

Monday: Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE:FGP), Synergetics (NASDAQ:SURG)

Tuesday: Acuity Brands (NYSE:AYI), Mosaic Xyratex (NASDAQ:XRTX)

Wednesday: Monsanto (NYSE:MON), Wolverine (NYSE:WWW), Marriott International (NYSE:MAR), Family Dollar (NYSE:FDO)

Thursday: Saba Software (NASDAQ:SABA), Matrix Services (NASDAQ:MTRX), MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI)

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