Highlights
In Switzerland, KOF's leading indicator is expected to hold steady at 99.9 in March. This index in February, up a better-than-expected 3.8 points, matched its 100.0 long-run average.
The EC economic sentiment index in March is expected to rise slightly to a consensus 99.9 from 99.7 in February.
Germany's inflationary pressures appear to be easing. The consumer price index is forecast to rise 7.3 percent on the year in March, decelerating from a 8.7 percent gain in February.
In the US, the third estimate of fourth-quarter GDP is expected to hold at 2.7 percent growth in the quarter's second estimate. The growth in personal consumption expenditures is also expected to be unrevised at 1.4 percent.
Initial jobless claims for the March 30 week are expected to come in at 195,000 versus 191,000 in the prior week.
Boston Federal Reserve Bank President Susan Collins will speak on the economy and participate in a fireside chat before the National Association for Business Economics 39th Annual Economic Policy Conference at 12:45 p.m. EDT (1645 GMT).
At the same time, Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Thomas Barkin will speak in person before the Virginia Council of CEOs Quarterly Meeting.
Consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, are expected to show slight easing in two key measures in March after their annual rates decelerated sharply to just above 3 percent in February from four-decade highs of over 4 percent the previous month as the government's program to provide subsidies to electricity and natural gas suppliers continues to lower utility charges.
The core CPI (excluding fresh food) is forecast to have risen 3.1 percent on year in March after rising 3.3% percent in February and 4.3 percent in January and the annual rate for the total CPI is also seen slowing to 3.2 percent from 3.4 percent while the increase in the core-core CPI (excluding fresh food and energy) -- a key indicator of the underlying trend of inflation -- is expected to accelerate to 3.3 percent from 3.2 percent.
Japanese payrolls are expected to post their seventh straight year-over-year growth in January as hotels and restaurants continued hiring more workers in response to further reopening of the economy, while the unemployment rate is seen unchanged at 2.4 percent after improving unexpectedly to a three-year low in January. There is a slight upside risk of the jobless rate edging up to 2.5 percent amid slowing global demand.
Japan's industrial production is expected to post a modest rebound of 2.7 percent on the month in February after slumping a downwardly revised 5.3 percent in January, when automakers suffered parts shortages and many other industries were hit by weaker global and domestic demand. The drag from suspended shipments during the lunar new year holidays in some parts of Asia in January appeared to have eased in February. From a year earlier, factory output is forecast to mark a fourth straight decline, down 1.9 percent, after slipping 3.1 percent.
Japanese retail sales are forecast to show their 12th straight year-over-year increase in February, up 6.0 percent, with the pace of increase accelerating from a downwardly revised 5.0 percent in January, led by continued gains in department store sales and a pickup in new vehicle sales as well as rising costs for food and beverages.
In China, the CFLP manufacturing PMI is expected to fall back to 51.8 in March versus February's 52.6, while the non-manufacturing PMI is expected to slip back to 54.3 after 56.3.
The EC economic sentiment index in March is expected to rise slightly to a consensus 99.9 from 99.7 in February.
Germany's inflationary pressures appear to be easing. The consumer price index is forecast to rise 7.3 percent on the year in March, decelerating from a 8.7 percent gain in February.
In the US, the third estimate of fourth-quarter GDP is expected to hold at 2.7 percent growth in the quarter's second estimate. The growth in personal consumption expenditures is also expected to be unrevised at 1.4 percent.
Initial jobless claims for the March 30 week are expected to come in at 195,000 versus 191,000 in the prior week.
Boston Federal Reserve Bank President Susan Collins will speak on the economy and participate in a fireside chat before the National Association for Business Economics 39th Annual Economic Policy Conference at 12:45 p.m. EDT (1645 GMT).
At the same time, Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Thomas Barkin will speak in person before the Virginia Council of CEOs Quarterly Meeting.
Consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, are expected to show slight easing in two key measures in March after their annual rates decelerated sharply to just above 3 percent in February from four-decade highs of over 4 percent the previous month as the government's program to provide subsidies to electricity and natural gas suppliers continues to lower utility charges.
The core CPI (excluding fresh food) is forecast to have risen 3.1 percent on year in March after rising 3.3% percent in February and 4.3 percent in January and the annual rate for the total CPI is also seen slowing to 3.2 percent from 3.4 percent while the increase in the core-core CPI (excluding fresh food and energy) -- a key indicator of the underlying trend of inflation -- is expected to accelerate to 3.3 percent from 3.2 percent.
Japanese payrolls are expected to post their seventh straight year-over-year growth in January as hotels and restaurants continued hiring more workers in response to further reopening of the economy, while the unemployment rate is seen unchanged at 2.4 percent after improving unexpectedly to a three-year low in January. There is a slight upside risk of the jobless rate edging up to 2.5 percent amid slowing global demand.
Japan's industrial production is expected to post a modest rebound of 2.7 percent on the month in February after slumping a downwardly revised 5.3 percent in January, when automakers suffered parts shortages and many other industries were hit by weaker global and domestic demand. The drag from suspended shipments during the lunar new year holidays in some parts of Asia in January appeared to have eased in February. From a year earlier, factory output is forecast to mark a fourth straight decline, down 1.9 percent, after slipping 3.1 percent.
Japanese retail sales are forecast to show their 12th straight year-over-year increase in February, up 6.0 percent, with the pace of increase accelerating from a downwardly revised 5.0 percent in January, led by continued gains in department store sales and a pickup in new vehicle sales as well as rising costs for food and beverages.
In China, the CFLP manufacturing PMI is expected to fall back to 51.8 in March versus February's 52.6, while the non-manufacturing PMI is expected to slip back to 54.3 after 56.3.
Definition
Market Focus details key factors in the coming day that will impact the economic outlook and the financial markets. These include central bank events, economic indicators, policymaker speeches as well as expected political and corporate developments.
Description
Keeping up-to-date with event schedules and the economic calendar is key to understanding the global financial system. Econoday's Market Focus allows investors and policymakers to carefully track what will be making news and moving the financial markets in the coming day.
