The Business News Week Ahead

The week opens with February's first update on Chinese manufacturing, a CFLP report that's set to be published on Sunday Chinese time. Consumer inflation data will be Monday's focus, from both Italy and Germany where February's flashes are seen steady to cooler. Harmonised consumer prices will follow from the Eurozone on Tuesday with Switzerland to post its CPI on Wednesday. Data from South Korea will include consumer prices on Thursday preceded on Tuesday by industrial production. Market-moving data from the US will bookend the week, first Monday with ISM manufacturing where strength is once again the call and then Friday with the February employment report where strength is not the call. A policy announcement from the Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday may also be one of the week's highlights, perhaps offering hints on how central banks plan to position the chance that stimulus, given rapidly declining Covid rates and rapidly increasing interest rates, may have to be withdrawn, at least sooner than later.