The economic calendar slows this week but still includes important data releases in the United States and abroad.
The first is the double-release of Chinese retail sales and industrial production. Both will probably be viewed closely because improving data from the Asian country has lifted sentiment toward the global economy in recent weeks. Italy will announce gross domestic product as well.
Wednesday features weekly mortgage-loan applications and crude-oil inventories. Neither is likely to have much impact on trading. Thursday brings European industrial production and U.S. weekly jobless claims. Friday morning features monthly retail sales and consumer sentiment.
It's also a light week in terms of earnings. Homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises reports this morning, while grocery chain Kroger and yoga-apparel company Lululemon follow Thursday morning.
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