In the absence of any major macroeconomic data on Friday, central bankers take the spotlight with comments from ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet, FOMC voting member Charles Plosser, and non-voters Jeffrey Lacker and Charles Evans. Also scheduled to speak is Bank of England MPC member Charles Bean.

At 8 a.m. EST, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet will participate in a panel discussion at the Frankfurt European Banking Congress.

At 8:15 a.m. EST, Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker (non-voter) will deliver a speech entitled 'Financial Conditions and the Economic Outlook' to the Technology Council of Maryland in Bethesda, Maryland. Audience and media Q&A sessions will follow.

At 12:15 p.m. EST, Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser (voter) will hold a press conference at the regional central bank's headquarters in Philadelphia.

At 12:40 p.m. EST, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans (non-voter) will speak at the Economic Club of Indiana in Indianapolis.

At 4:45 p.m. EST, Bank of England Deputy Governor Charles Richard Bean will speak at the Turkish Central Bank in Istanbul.

8:00 EU ECB President Jean Claude Trichet will Speak in Frankfurt

8:15 US Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker speaks on financial conditions at an event in Maryland

12:15 US Philly Fed President Charles Plosser speaks on the financial crisis at an event in Philadelphia

12:40 US Chicago Fed President Charles Evans speaks to economists at an event in Indianapolis

4:34 BOE's Bean Speaks at Turkish Central Bank

By Erik Kevin Franco and edited by Sarah Sussman
©CEP News Ltd. 2008