The Week Ahead – Everything You Need to Know

While stocks markets continue to rally in the US and globally due to Donald Trump deregulation actions, markets are in a constant concern of the new American  president and the Geo political instability that hover above global economy. Gold and precious metals continued to climb as investors seek a new safe haven. The US Dollar posted its first weekly gain after Fed member Harker said that March is on the table for a possible rate hike.

The week ahead, Yellen testimony on Wednesday will attract most attention as any signals of the next rate hike can add volatility and direction into markets.

Here are the main economic events of the upcoming week:

Sunday

• On Sunday, German Presidential results will be released at 12:00 PM GMT.

Germany former foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Joachim Gauck, a 77-year-old former pastor and East German pro-democracy activist who is not seeking a second five-year term because of his age.

The German president has little executive power, but is considered an important moral authority.

• Japan will publish its growth domestic products figures at 23:50 GMT. the data is expected to show that Japan economy expanded by 0.3% QoQ while YoY is forecasts to grow by 1.1%, a decline from 1.3% a month earlier. The released data might pressure BoJ and provide volatility for the Japanese Yen.

Monday

• OPEC Monthly Report will be released at European morning session. The IEA Supply report last week suggested possible changes by OPEC. The oil leading countries report might shed light on oil and energy prices.

Tuesday

• China Inflation Rate will be published at 1:30 AM GMT. MoM Chinese CPI is expected to rise to 0.7% from 0.2% while YoY is expected to rise to 2.4% from 2.1%.
• Germany will publish its GDP data at 9:00 GMT. QoQ German growth is expected to rise by 0.5% compare to 0.2% YoY is also expected to rise to 1.7% from 1.5%.
• UK CPI will be released at 9:30 GMT. MoM UK growth is expected to shrink by -0.5% compare to an increase of 0.5% in the previous month. YoY inflation rate is expected to rise by 1.9% compare to 1.6% a month earlier.
• EuroZone Revised GDP data will be released at 10:00 GMT. QoQ the European economy is expected to grow by 0.5% compare to previous 0.3% while YoY is expected to slightly grow by 1.8% compare to 1.7%.
• German Zew Economic Index will be released at 10:00 GMT. The sentiment index is expected to fall to 15 from 16.6.
• Janet Yellen will testify before the Senate Banking Committee at 15:00 GMT. Yellen testimony will include the Fed insights and the can signal the projected timing of the next rate hike.

Wednesday

• UK Unemployment rate will be released at 9:30 GMT and expected to hold steady at 4.8%. Claimant Count Change is expected to rise by 1K compare to a fall of 10.1K a month earlier.
• US Inflation Rate will be published at 13:30 GMT and expected to rise to 2.4% compare 2.1% annually. MoM CPI is expected to remain unchanged at 0.3%. YoY core CPI is expected to slightly fall to 2.1% compare to previous 2.2%.
• The Federal Reserve Chair, Janet Yellen will testify in front of the Financial Services Committee at 13:00 GMT. Markets will be closely watching as March rate hike projections increased to 15% after FOMC member Harker comments. Fed Harker will hold a speech on the same day at 17:45.

Thursday

• Australian Unemployment Rate will be released at 00:30 GMT and expected to remain unchanged at 5.8%. 10K new jobs created in the previous month compare to 13.5K.
• US Housing Starts and Building Permits will be published at 13:30 GMT. Housing Starts are expected to remain unchanged at 1227 while building permits are expected to rise to 1230 compare to 1228.
• Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index will be released at 13:30 GMT and expected to fall to 18 from 23.6 a month earlier.

Friday

• UK Retail Sales figures will be published at 9:30 GMT. YoY UK retail sales is expected to fall to 3.5% from 4.3% a month earlier.

Check out our real-time Economic Calendar