What to Watch in the Day Ahead - Wednesday, January 8

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The Federal Open Market Committee is set to issue the minutes of its December 2024 policy meeting.

On the U.S. economic front, investors will look out for the monthly ADP National Employment Report, which is expected to show that private payrolls added 140,000 jobs in December after advancing by 146,000 in November. Separately, weekly jobless claims data from the Labor Department is also on the slate. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits probably dropped 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted 218,000 for the week ended Jan. 4. Meanwhile, continued jobless claims likely increased by 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.867 million for the week ended Dec. 28. The Commerce Department's revised figures for wholesale inventories are unlikely to show any change from the initial drop of 0.2% in November.

The Federal Reserve Board Governor Christopher Waller is scheduled to speak on the economic outlook before an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development event in Paris. (0830/1330)

Albertsons is expected to post a rise in third-quarter revenue, boosted by strong demand for groceries and essentials. Investors will look out for comments regarding the fallen-out merger with Kroger, the legal battle and the company's plans to accelerate growth.

Jefferies Financial is expected to report a higher fourth-quarter net income, benefiting from a rebound in dealmaking environment in the United States.

Rostin Behnam, chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is expected to deliver an address at the Brookings Institution on the future of commodity derivatives regulation.

On the Latin American economic calendar, Brazil's statistics agency IBGE is set to report that industrial output in the country probably fell 0.5% in November, compared with a 0.2% decline in October. On an annual basis, output is estimated to have risen 1.8% in November. Argentina's industrial output figures for November are also due for release. In Chile, consumer prices likely remained unchanged in December, following a 0.2% rise in the month prior.

(Compiled by Malini K; Editing by Vijay Kishore)

((Malini.K@thomsonreuters.com;))