The ZEW monthly survey of financial experts in Germany is likely to show sentiment remains mixed. The current conditions index is expected to edge down to minus 82.0 in March from minus 81.7 in February while the expectations (economic sentiment) index is forecast to rise further to 21.0 in from 19.9 which, for the seventh month in a row, was higher than expected.

Among US data, housing starts in February are expected to rebound sharply to a 1.449 million annualized rate from January's 1.331 million that was lower than expected and held down in part by severe weather and also unusual strength in December. Permits, at 1.470 and 1.493 million the past two reports, are expected to rise to 1.500 million.

In Canada, consumer inflation for February is expected to edge higher to 3.0 percent after easing more than expected to 2.9 percent in January from December's 3.4 percent. The core CPI rate is also expected to accelerate to 3.3 percent from 3.1 percent. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem told reporters earlier this month that underlying inflation pressures are persisting and thus that it is too early to loosen the restrictive policy.

The People's Bank of China is expected to hold the 5-year loan prime rate unchanged at 3.95 percent after cutting it by a deeper-than-expected 25 basis points in February. The 1-year rate, which was left unchanged in February, is also expected to remain unchanged at 3.45 percent.

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.

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.