France reported a 0.3% expansion in Q1 17, which was a little softer than expected, weighed down by a 0.7% decline in net exports and household spending that practically stagnated. The US also sees the Chicago PMI for April and the final University of Michigan consumer confidence and inflation expectation survey. Merkel's speech earlier this week underscores the EU's interest in first agreeing to the terms of exit before a new, even if temporary, arrangement, can be made.