A testing week for Apple and ECB rate-setters

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Hello and welcome to the work week.

Hopes that September brings a peaceful summer vacation, at least for those in the northern hemisphere, may be dashed by the turn of weather and the disappointment of dark days ahead. So this week’s news agenda bears that out.

Apple is hoping the luster of its latest product launch this week won’t be marred by party poopers in Beijing as government officials crack down on iPhone use. The buzz surrounding Tuesday’s release of the iPhone 15 is aimed at helping Apple eventually overtake Samsung as the world’s largest phone maker. However, China accounts for about a fifth of the iPhone maker’s revenue.

The key economic event this week will be the European Central Bank’s interest rate decision on Thursday, which is on a knife’s edge. Eurozone inflation is 5.3%, still far from the European Central Bank’s 2% target, and central bankers are unable to stop raising interest rates, especially with rising oil prices and rapidly rising wages. However, recent data point to a sharp economic downturn that could put the balance on hold this time.

Clothing retail is the subject of this week’s heavyweight earnings reports H&M and Index. Will the late summer sun smile or will these high street leaders get burned? If these market leaders can’t beat the post-holiday blues, we might as well all close up shop.

We also have a series of important anniversaries coming up. Monday marks the 50th anniversary of the coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet to power in Chile and the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

However, Monday’s National Day celebrations in Catalonia were the focus of independence rallies and will be of particular concern to Madrid politicians this week as hardline separatist parties “Together for Catalonia” move under Spanish rule He played a kingmaker role in the formation of the previous government. The party, known as Junts in Catalan, hopes to use its influence to ensure wider official use of the region’s language and, more controversially, pardoned the last Those facing criminal charges in the push for independence. Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will undoubtedly welcome this week’s autumnal dip in temperatures, at least amid the heated political debate.

What are your top priorities for the week ahead? Please email jonathan.moules@ft.com or click reply if you have received this message in your inbox.

And one more thing. . .

Like many others, the Moules family last week focused on returning to school, with one young member starting A-levels and another preparing for GCSE exams.

You can help your children get a good start in the new year by asking your school or secondary education college to register students and teachers aged 16-19 for free access to the Financial Times. Apply here Free online subscription. Additionally, subscribe to the School Digest newsletter, which features topic-specific articles selected by our teacher advisors. If you are a teacher and would like to suggest article/thesis questions, please email school@ft.com.

Key economic and company reports

Here’s a more complete list of company reports and economic data expectations for this week.

on Monday

• EU: European Commission mid-summer economic forecast

• UK: Bank of England chief economist Hugh Peel speaks at Invicta Chamber of Commerce in Kent

• result: Oracle Q1, Vestri Group H1

Tuesday

• apple Annual media event held in Cupertino to launch new products

• OPEC September Oil Market Report

• Germany: Zew Economic Sentiment Report

• UK: September employment data

• result: united british food transaction updates, fever tree drink fiscal year, IQ H1, gym group H1, Wicks H1

Wednesday

• IEA September Oil Market Report

• European Union: Monthly Industrial Production Data

• UK: Revised July GDP data

• US: September Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inflation Data

• result: Index H1, Redrow fiscal year, Tallow Oil H1

Thursday

• EU: European Central Bank Interest Rate Announcement

• UK: RICS house price balance

• US: August retail sales data

• result: adobe Q3, IG Group First quarter trading update, john lewis partnership H1, Kiel Group fiscal year, M&C Saatchi H1, third harmonic H1, train line First half trading update

Friday

• Novartis Extraordinary general meeting convened to vote on Sandoz demerger

• Rupert Soames becomes chairman of medical technology company smith + nephewsucceeds Roberto Quarta.

• China: August retail sales and industrial production data

• France: September CPI and Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) inflation data

• UK: August insolvency statistics for England and Wales

• US: August industrial production data plus September University of Michigan consumer confidence survey

• result: H&M Q3 Sales Update

world events

Finally, here’s an overview of the week’s other events and milestones.

on Monday

• Bangladesh: French President Macron arrives in Dhaka for a state visit after attending the G20 Summit in New Delhi

• Chile: 50th anniversary of the military coup that overthrew President Salvador Allende and brought General Augusto Pinochet to power

• Norway: local elections

• Spain: National Day of Catalonia

• UK: TUC trade union leaders conference continues in Liverpool

• United States: 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States

Tuesday

• UK: The 150th anniversary match between Scotland and England at Hampden Park is recognized by FIFA as the oldest international competition in the world.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

• Rosh Hashanah celebrations begin tonight in honor of Rosh Hashanah

• France: French air traffic controllers have begun a nationwide strike to protest against inflation and wage revaluation.The strike is expected to cause disruption to flights during the Rugby World Cup and could affect flights from other countries traveling through French airspace

• UK: London Fashion Week kicks off

Saturday

• Germany: 188th annual Oktoberfest, Bavarian Oktoberfest and funfair opens in Munich

• UK: The 21st London Design Festival kicks off, an annual city-wide showcase of architecture, furniture, graphic design, multimedia technology, fashion and fine art.

Sunday

• Australia: Philip Lowe resigns as Reserve Bank of Australia governor.He will succeed Treasurer Jim Chalmers following the appointment of Michele Bullock in July

• Spain: The 78th Vuelta a España ends in Madrid