US housing starts and building permits at 8:30 am ET and industrial production at 9:15 am ET Tuesday are the day's highlight in scheduled economic news. Housing starts are expected at a 1.383 million unit rate in February, up slightly from 1.366 million in January, a fairly flat showing as cold weather depressed starts in January. For industrial production, the consensus looks for a modest 0.2 percent increase in February, based on higher manufacturing payrolls and hours worked after weather dampened manufacturing in January.

In Germany, the ZEW investor confidence report due for release at 11 am CET (6 am ET) is expected to show another improvement in the economic sentiment index to 35.0 in March from 26.0 in February and 10.3 in January. The rising trend in Germany contrasts with deepening gloom among US consumers, investors and businesses.

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.