ECB to make decision on key interest rate

This week:The meeting of the ECB governing council will provide one of the economic highlights of the week, and mortgage holders will be watching closely on Thursday to see whether the rate is adjusted.

Hawkish comments from council members coupled with above-target inflation has led to speculation that the current rate will remain unchanged.

However, the press conference after the central bank meeting will be analysed carefully for any hint that the council is softening its stance.

The Bank of England will also announce its interest rate decision on Thursday, with some commentators speculating that a further 0.25 per cent reduction is on the cards.

On the domestic front, the significant economic highlights for the week will be the industrial production figures for November due to be released on Thursday, and December's live register figures which are due out this Friday.

O2's small to medium size enterprise (SME) business confidence survey, which is due to be published today, should provide an interesting insight into sentiment in the SME sector, while the national tourism development authority Fáilte Ireland will hold an end of year review tomorrow, and will also announce its outlook for the year ahead.

Monday

RESULTS:Lawson Software, Schnitzer Steel

MEETINGS:Rightmove egm

INDICATORS:Euro zone economic sentiment (December), PPI (November) and unemployment (November); Swiss unemployment rate

OTHERS:O2 publishes SME business confidence survey; Halifax launches a new product on the Irish market; consumer electronics show - to Thursday (Las Vegas); trading update from Playtech

Tuesday

RESULTS:Alcoa, Apollo, Supervalu

AGM:Topps Tiles

INDICATORS:Euro zone retail sales (November); US pending home sales (November) and consumer credit (November); UK BRC retail sales survey (December); German industrial orders (November)

OTHERS:Fáilte Ireland holds its annual end of year review and outlook for 2008; National Irish Bank publishes its first quarterly economic commentary of 2008 - briefing by chief economist Ronnie O'Toole; CB Richard Ellis publishes a comprehensive outlook on the Irish commercial property market, with briefing by Marie Hunt, Merrion Hotel; World Bank Global Economic Prospects report (London).

Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank president Charles Plosser speaks on risks to the economy, inflation, the labour market and the housing sector (Pennsylvania).

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston president Eric Rosengren speaks at the Connecticut Business & Industry Association's 2008 Economic Summit and Outlook Conference;

Wednesday

RESULTS:Mercantile Bank, Penford, Richardson Electronics, Robbins & Myers, Uruguay Mineral Exploration

INDICATORS:Euro zone GDP (third quarter); UK nationwide consumer confidence and leading indicator index; German retail sales and industrial production (November).

OTHERS:Bord Bia's Export Performance & Prospects 2007/2008 report; Bank of England MPC meets.

Thursday

RESULTS:Wi-Lan

INDICATORS:ECB rate announcement; Irish industrial production and turnover figures for November; US initial jobless claims (week ending January 5th) and wholesale inventories (November); UK trade balance and Bank of England interest rate announcement; French industrial production; Spanish industrial production; Canadian building permits; Japanese leading indicators and money supply (all data relating to November)

OTHERS:Trading updates from John David, Premier Foods, Redrow and Sainsbury's.

Friday

RESULTS:Shaw Communications

AGM:Bellway

INDICATORS:Irish live register figures; US export prices, international trade balance and federal budget; UK industrial production; German wholesale prices; Canadian unemployment rate; Japanese Economy Watchers' Index. All data relates to December.

OTHERS:Trading updates from Bovis Homes and Interserve