Week Ahead

Latest edition · August 17, 2026

Monex Week Ahead 17th 21st August 2026

Monex previews key economic releases and central bank outlooks for the week of August 17–21, 2026, across the UK, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Japan, and the Eurozone. The team anticipates stable policy from the BoC and Riksbank, downside risks for GBP on easing UK wage pressures, upside risks for AUDUSD, and confirmation of a September BoJ rate hike.

After a subdued summer lull, the week of August 17–21, 2026 brings heavy data releases across major G10 economies. Canada's July CPI should reflect energy-driven headline increases while core measures remain anchored, keeping the BoC on hold. UK employment and CPI prints are projected to show easing wage growth and core disinflation, pushing back on BoE hike expectations and leaving sterling vulnerable to fiscal concerns. In Australia, solid wage and jobs data should support RBA tightening risks and AUDUSD upside toward 0.71. Meanwhile, the Riksbank is expected to deliver a hawkish hold at 1.75%, Japan's rebased July CPI should pave the way for a September BoJ hike to 1.25%, and European flash PMIs are forecast to ease modestly from July's temporary boost.

Key takeaways from the latest edition

• 1.The Bank of Canada is expected to keep rates unchanged at 2.25% in September, looking through energy-driven headline CPI strength as underlying core inflation remains contained near 1.8-2.0%.
• 2.UK wage cooling and core disinflation are expected to push back on Bank of England rate hike bets, leaving sterling vulnerable to fiscal concerns ahead of the autumn budget.
• 3.The Riksbank is poised for a hawkish hold at 1.75%, maintaining optionality to hike later this year, though widening policy divergence with the ECB leaves EURSEK positioned to grind higher toward 11.20.

What this series covers

• INTRODUCTION
• ECONOMIC CALENDAR
• DATA PREVIEWS
• Canada CPI preview: Continuing to look through energy distortions
• UK data preview: Pushing back on hiking bets again
• Australia jobs preview: Shaping the September debate
• Riksbank preview: Hold now, keep the hike alive
• Japan CPI preview: September hike needs confirmation, not permission
• PMIs preview: Back to reality as July's boost fades
• General disclosure
• Market specific disclosures

Edition archive

• Monex Week Ahead 17th 21st August 2026

  August 17, 2026

• Monex Week Ahead 8th - 12th June 2026

  June 8, 2026

• Monex Week Ahead 1st - 5th June 2026

  June 1, 2026

• Monex Monex Week Ahead 18th - 22nd May 2026

  May 19, 2026