Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Monday, June 13, and which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

SINGAPORE'S LABOUR MARKET SITUATION

A detailed report on Singapore's labour market situation in the first quarter of this year is expected to be released today (June 13). Going by preliminary estimates released by the Ministry of Manpower in April, about 4,600 workers lost their jobs in the first three months of this year, more than the 3,500 who were let go in the same period last year.

MERKEL MEETS CHINESE LEADERS

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold a joint press conference with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and meet President Xi Jinping in Beijing today (June 13), during her ninth visit to China since taking office.

Dr Merkel, who is under growing pressure from industry and rights groups to confront the Chinese more forcefully, is expected to raise issues including barriers for foreign firms in the Chinese market and human rights with her hosts. Foreign firms are limited to 50 per cent stakes in joint ventures with their Chinese counterparts even as Chinese companies are on an acquisition spree in Europe. Dr Merkel is accompanied on her three-day trip by six of her ministers and a large industry delegation. She is due to travel to the northern "rust belt" city of Shenyang to visit a BMW plant on Tuesday.

World events that may affect markets

Investors will be keeping close tabs this week on various global events that could affect markets. Analysts are increasingly alert to risks arising from the line-ball referendum next week on a possible exit by Britain from the European Union. In the United States early Thursday (June 16) Singapore time, the US Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates on hold but could offer clues on rate rises in the future. The Bank of Japan is also seen as likely to keep interest rates steady on Thursday.