The Week Ahead
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Week commencing 17 March
Chris Beauchamp insight
Rate decisions from the Bank of Japan (BoJ), Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Bank of England (BoE) dominate the week. Meanwhile, earnings are relatively sparse, though UK Asia-focussed insurer Prudential reports earnings. However, the main drivers of market activity are likely to be tariffs and their impact on the global economic outlook, as markets struggle to price in the US administration’s haphazard approach to policymaking.
Economic reports
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Weekly view
2am – China retail sales (February): sales expected to rise 3.4% YoY (year-on-year) from 3.7%. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
12.30pm – US retail sales, Empire manufacturing index (February): retail sales expected to rise 0.5% MoM from -0.9% in January.
10am – German ZEW index (March): sentiment expected to rise to 32 from 26. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
12.30pm – Canada consumer price index (CPI) (February): inflation forecast to rise to 2.5% YoY from 1.9%, and 0.9% MoM (month-on-month) from 0.1%. Core CPI to rise to 2.2% YoY from 2.1%. Markets to watch: CAD crosses
3am - BoJ rate decision: rates expected to be held at 0.5%. Markets to watch: Nikkei 225, yen crosses
2.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 14 March): stockpiles rose by 1.45 million barrels in the previous week. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI
6pm – Federal Reserve (Fed) rate decision: no change in rates expected, but there will be plenty of focus on the outlook given the imposition of tariffs on key trading partners. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses
7am – UK employment data: January unemployment rate expected to hold at 4.4%. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
12pm – Bank of England (BoE) rate decision: rates expected to be held at 4.5%. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
12.30pm - US initial jobless claims (w/e 15 March): claims expected to rise to 225K. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses
2pm – US existing home sales (February): expected to fall 0.7% MoM from -4.9% in January. Markets to watch: USD crosses
11.30pm – Japan inflation (February): prices rose by 4% YoY in January. Markets to watch: JPY crosses
3pm – eurozone consumer confidence (March, flash): index expected to fall to -14 from -13.6. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
Monday
2am – China retail sales (February): sales expected to rise 3.4% YoY from 3.7%. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
12.30pm – US retail sales, Empire manufacturing index (February): retail sales expected to rise 0.5% MoM from -0.9% in January.
Tuesday
10am – German ZEW index (March): sentiment expected to rise to 32 from 26. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
12.30pm – Canada CPI (February): inflation forecast to rise to 2.5% YoY from 1.9%, and 0.9% MoM from 0.1%. Core CPI to rise to 2.2% YoY from 2.1%. Markets to watch: CAD crosses
Wednesday
3am - BoJ rate decision: rates expected to be held at 0.5%. Markets to watch: Nikkei 225, yen crosses
2.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 14 March): stockpiles rose by 1.45 million barrels in the previous week. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI
6pm – Fed rate decision: no change in rates expected, but there will be plenty of focus on the outlook given the imposition of tariffs on key trading partners. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses
Thursday
7am – UK employment data: January unemployment rate expected to hold at 4.4%. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
12pm – Bank of England rate decision: rates expected to be held at 4.5%. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
12.30pm - US initial jobless claims (w/e 15 March): claims expected to rise to 225K. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses
2pm – US existing home sales (February): expected to fall 0.7% MoM from -4.9% in January. Markets to watch: USD crosses
11.30pm – Japan inflation (February): prices rose by 4% YoY in January. Markets to watch: JPY crosses
Friday
3pm – eurozone consumer confidence (March, flash): index expected to fall to -14 from -13.6. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
Company announcements
Dividends
FTSE 100: Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Pearson, Beazley
FTSE 250: Goodwin, Chemring, Ruffer Investment, Law Debenture
Dividends are applied after the close of the previous day’s session for each market. So, for example, the FTSE 100 goes ex-dividend on a Thursday, but the adjustment is applied at the close of the previous day, e.g. Wednesday. The table below shows the days in which the adjustment is applied, not the ex-dividend days.
Index adjustments
|
Monday 17 March |
Tuesday 18 March |
Wednesday 19 March |
Thursday 20 March |
Friday 21 March |
Monday 24 March |
| FTSE 100 | 1.54 | |||||
| Australia 200 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | ||
| Wall Street | 2.5 | 1.4 | ||||
| US 500 | 0.20 | 0.09 | 0.69 | 0.15 | 0.05 | 0.23 |
| Nasdaq | 0.18 | 0.34 | 2.47 | |||
| Netherlands 25 | ||||||
| EU Stocks 50 | 4.7 | 0.8 | ||||
| China H-Shares | ||||||
| Singapore Blue Chip | ||||||
| Hong Kong HS50 | ||||||
| South Africa 40 | ||||||
| Italy 40 | 19.4 | 39.7 | ||||
| Japan 225 | 0.6 |
* Please note these can change without notice
1 Dividend adjustments due to be posted on a bank holiday will usually be posted on the previous working day
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Enjoy flexible access to 17,000+ global markets, with reliable execution
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Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app
Feel secure with a trusted provider
With 50 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
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