Only the U.S. bond market was open to respond to April 2′s jobs report, which found that unemployment was flat at 9.7% in March but that 162,000 new jobs were created during the month. While many overseas markets remain closed for the Easter Monday bank holiday, U.S. markets are open all week.
Those markets will likely respond on April 5 to the National Association of Realtor's release of pending home sales for February; on April 6 to release of the minutes of the FOMC's March 16 meeting; on April 7 to the Fed's release of consumer credit numbers for February; on April 8 to the latest retail sales figures; and on April 9, Friday, to wholesale inventories for February from the Commerce Department.
Interest rates will be on the minds of Europeans this week, too, as the European Central Bank meets–followed by a live press conference–and the Bank of England gathers on that topic on April 8.
The House and Senate return from their Easter recess this week, and beginning on Wednesday, April 7, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission begins three consecutive days of hearings.
