Monday

11.30pm – Australia Westpac consumer confidence (March): index to rise to 79.1. Markets to watch: AUD crosses

Tuesday

7am – UK unemployment data: January unemployment rate to rise to 3.8%, average earnings to rise 6.6% over the previous three months. Markets to watch: GBP crosses

12.30pm – US CPI (February): prices to rise 6.2% YoY from 6.4%, and 0.4% MoM from 0.5%. Core CPI to rise 5.6% YoY and 0.4% MoM, both unchanged from last month. Markets to watch: USD crosses

Wednesday

2am – China industrial production, retail sales, unemployment rate (February): production to increase by 2.6%, and unemployment rate to hold at 5.5%. Markets to watch: CNH crosses

12.30pm – UK budget: the Chancellor will unveil the government’s spending plans. Recent improvements in finances and lower energy prices may provide a more upbeat forecast for the British economy. Markets to watch: GBP crosses

12.30pm – US PPI, retail sales (February): PPI to slow to 0.3% MoM and sales to rise 0.2% from 3%. Markets to watch: USD crosses

2.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 10 March): stockpiles fell by 1.7 million barrels in the previous week. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI

Thursday

12.30am – Australia employment data: unemployment rate to fall to 3.6%. Markets to watch: AUD crosses

12.30pm – US initial jobless claims (w/e 11 March): claims rose to 211K in the previous week. Markets to watch: USD crosses

1.15pm – ECB rate decision: rates to rise 50bps to 3.5%, with the press conference likely to provide guidance on further policy changes. Markets to watch: eurozone indices, EUR crosses

Friday

2pm – US Michigan confidence index (March): expected to edge up to 67.5. Markets to watch: USD crosses

Company announcements