As we step into the third week of March, financial markets are bracing for a whirlwind of macroeconomic updates and central bank decisions that could drive significant market movements. After a relatively quiet period, this week promises a surge in crucial data releases and interest rate announcements from major global financial institutions. Market participants are particularly attuned to the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, and the Swiss National Bank, all of which are set to make key policy decisions. These events, coupled with ongoing geopolitical tensions, ensure that volatility will remain a dominant theme.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the week’s most significant economic events:
Monday, 17 March 2025
- Asian Session
- Focus on China with the release of Industrial Production and Retail Sales figures.
- European Session
- A quiet day with no major scheduled releases.
- US Session
- Key data releases include:
- Retail Sales
- Empire State Manufacturing Index
- Key data releases include:
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
- Asian Session
- No major economic data scheduled.
- European Session
- Germany’s ZEW Economic Sentiment Index – a key indicator of economic outlook in the Eurozone’s largest economy.
- US Session
- Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) – an important inflation measure that could impact Bank of Canada policy expectations.
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
- Asian Session
- Bank of Japan Rate Decision (Exact timing not fixed but typically around Tokyo lunchtime.)
- European Session
- No major scheduled data releases.
- US Session
- Federal Reserve Interest Rate Decision – a key event for global markets, typically announced late in the day.
Thursday, 20 March 2025
- Asian Session
- New Zealand GDP Figures – providing insights into the country’s economic performance.
- Australian Employment Data – a crucial labor market indicator for the region.
- Chinese Loan Prime Rate (LPR) Update – a key interest rate impacting credit markets.
- European Session
- UK Employment Data – offering a snapshot of the labor market’s strength.
- Bank of England Rate Decision – highly anticipated, with potential implications for the British pound.
- Swiss National Bank Rate Decision – an important policy update for Swiss markets.
- US Session
- Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims – a leading indicator of labor market conditions.
- Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index – a key regional economic indicator.
- Speech by Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem – insights into future Canadian monetary policy.
Friday, 21 March 2025
- Asian Session
- No major scheduled economic releases.
- European Session
- A relatively quiet day with no major events on the calendar.
- US Session
- Canada Retail Sales Data – crucial for assessing consumer spending trends in Canada.
- Speech by FOMC Member John Williams – potentially offering further clarity on Federal Reserve policy outlook.
Categories: Market News
