Key economic data for the week ahead-27/02

In the US, investors will keep a close eye on appearances from several Feb officials for more clues on the size of the next interest rate hike and the level of the terminal fed funds rate, at a time of fresh price data. On the data front, important economic releases include ISM PMIs for both manufacturing and services, durable goods orders, pending home sales, goods trade balance, S&P/Case-Shiller housing index and FHFA House Price Index, CB consumer confidence, regional PMIs Dallas, Richmond and Chicago and final S&P Global PMIs.

Meanwhile, Canada's GDP growth figures for Q4 are likely to show the economy grew at a slower annualized rate of 1.5%.

It will be a busy week in Europe, with investors waiting for ECB monetary policy meeting accounts, Also, key reports on inflation and employment will be released for Eurozone.

In the United Kingdom, the Bank of England's monetary indicators and Nationwide housing prices with be in the spotlight, alongside final S&P Global/CIPS PMIs. The investor will also keep an eye on comments from BoE Governor Biley and Chief Economist Pill.

It has to be mentioned that consumer confidence in the UK rose to -38 in February 2023 from -45 in the previous month based on the Gfk Consumer Confidence indicator.

In the United Kingdom, the consumer confidence survey measures the level of optimism that consumers have about the performance of the economy in the next 12 months.

In China, NBS and Caixin PMIs for an update on how the Chinese economy has responded to the reopening so far.

In Japan, confirmation hearings for the government's nominee for central bank governor, Kazuo Ueda will be in the spotlight. On the data front, it will be interesting to follow Tokyo's inflation figures for February and the national unemployment rate, retail sales, and industrial production for January.

In?India, GDP growth figures are likely to show the economy grew 4.6% in October-December last year, well below 6.3% in the three months to September. S&P Global PMIs are also due.

In Australia, the focus will be on fourth-quarter GDP growth, with the economy seen rising 0.9% compared to Q3. Investors will also keep an eye on retail sales and the monthly CPI indicator.