With the fourth-quarter earnings season nearing its end, only a few companies remain to release their reports, including Broadcom, JD Sports Fashion, and Costco Wholesale. The US economic data schedule is packed, with key releases including the February jobs report, the ISM Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey, and January retail sales data. The US is expected to have added approximately 60,000 jobs last month, down from 130,000 in January, and the unemployment rate is expected to remain stable at 4.3%. Average hourly earnings are expected to rise by 0.3%, lower than the previous increase of 0.4%. ISM data suggests that manufacturing activity may have slowed slightly in February, while service sector growth is expected to accelerate. Furthermore, January retail sales are likely to have declined slightly by 0.2%, following flat sales in December, indicating continued pressure on consumer spending. Other upcoming data releases include the ADP employment report, Challenger layoff data, the January trade price index, fourth-quarter labor productivity, December business inventories, and consumer credit data. In other parts of the US, Canada will release the S&P Global and Ivey Business School Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), and Mexico will release its business confidence index. In Brazil, investors will closely watch fourth-quarter GDP, the S&P Global PMI, industrial production, unemployment rate, and trade data.

Next week, Eurozone inflation data will be the focus, with the annual overall CPI expected to remain at 1.7% and core inflation at 2.1%. The Eurozone’s overall unemployment rate is expected to remain at a record low of 6.2%. German factory orders are expected to decline after four consecutive months of growth, and retail sales are expected to fall after a slight rebound in December. Italy’s consumer price index is expected to rise 0.2% month-on-month, with annualized prices remaining flat, and the manufacturing PMI may show a slowdown in contraction and a stabilization. The Spanish and Italian services PMIs are expected to show a slowdown in economic growth, but still remaining robust. Other upcoming data releases include the Eurozone Producer Price Index (PPI), retail sales, and final GDP; French industrial production; Spanish employment data; Italian GDP and budget data; and UK mortgage approvals and car sales data. The European Central Bank will also release information related to its latest interest rate decision. In the UK, the most important economic event next week is Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’ Spring Economic Report on Tuesday, where she will release the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Although the Treasury has downplayed the possibility of major policy changes such as tax increases, the report will still outline the state of the UK economy, available fiscal space, and government bond issuance plans. Earlier this week, markets will also focus on housing data released by the Nationwide Building Society, as well as mortgage approvals and the final Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data for February.

In China, markets will focus on the annual “Two Sessions” scheduled for March 4-11, where delegates from across the country will set key economic targets and outline policy priorities. Beijing is also expected to release the 15th Five-Year Plan, detailing development goals for 2026-2030. In addition, investors will closely watch the official and private Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) surveys, which are expected to show a slowdown in manufacturing activity. In Japan, market focus will shift to the latest unemployment data, with the unemployment rate expected to remain at 2.6%. Consumer confidence is expected to rise slightly, and capital expenditure growth is projected at 3%. The final Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) will also be released. In Australia, a series of important economic data will be released this week, including GDP figures, with fourth-quarter growth expected to accelerate slightly to 0.6% quarter-on-quarter. Other key data include trade data, job advertisements, commodity prices, building permits, household spending, and current account data. In India, economic data is relatively scarce this week, but industrial production data will still be released. In other parts of the Asia-Pacific region, several major economies, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, will release PMI survey results. Indonesia will also release trade data, while inflation data will be released for Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Furthermore, Bank Negara Malaysia will announce its latest monetary policy decision.