5 Things to Watch on the Economic Calendar

Global financial markets will focus on Chinese trade figures due on Friday in a relatively quiet week for economic data.
Investors will also keep an eye out on a few U.S. economic reports, with Friday's consumer sentiment data in the spotlight, for further clues on the timing of the next Federal Reserve rate hike.
Meanwhile, in the euro zone, market participants will pay close attention to a report on German factory orders to gauge the health of the region's largest economy.
Traders will also be focusing on a number of central bank decisions this week, including rate reviews in Australia and New Zealand.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of the five biggest events on the economic calendar that are most likely to affect the markets.
1.German December Factory Orders
Previous: -3.6%
Forecast: 0.5%
Actual: 5.2%
2.Reserve Bank of Australia Policy Meeting
Most economists expect the central bank to keep rates unchanged at the current record-low of 1.50% as it attempts to balance a heated housing market with weak wage growth and below target inflation.
3.Reserve Bank of New Zealand Rate Review
Most market analysts expect the central bank to hold its benchmark interest rate at the current all-time low of 1.75%, while signaling the next move in rates could be higher due to a recent uptick in inflation.
4.U.S. Michigan Consumer Sentiment for February
5.China January Trade Data
The report is expected to show that the country’s trade surplus widened to $48.9 billion last month from $40.8 billion in December.Exports are forecast to have climbed 3.0% in January from a year earlier, following a decline of 6.1% a month ago, while imports are expected to rise 9.6%, after gaining 3.1% in December.

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