The Week Ahead
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Week commencing 23 March
Chris Beauchamp's insight
The week starts off with inflation data in Japan, followed up by the UK, though both will only be for February and thus miss the impact of the oil price spike, Global purchasing managers indices (PMIs) may shed some light on the situation since they are the initial readings for March. It is a quiet week for US earnings, though in the UK housebuilder Bellway and retail giant Next report. However the war in the Middle East and its effect on oil prices will be the real driver of volatility this week.
Economic reports
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Weekly view
12.30pm - US Chicago Fed Index (February): index expected to rise to 0.27. Markets to watch: USD crosses
11.30pm – Japan inflation (February): prices expected to rise 1.3% year-on-year (YoY). Markets to watch: JPY crosses
12.30am – Japan PMI (March, flash): manufacturing activity expected to weaken to 51 from 53. Services to fall to 51.5 from 53.8. Markets to watch: JPY crosses
8.30am – Germany PMI (March, flash): manufacturing expected to fall to 50.7 from 50.9. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
9.30am – UK PMI (March, flash): manufacturing PMI to fall to 51.1 from 51.7, and services to weaken to 51.8 from 53.9. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
1.45pm – US PMI (March, flash): manufacturing expected to fall to 50.2 from 51.6, and services to fall to 50.4 from 51.7. Markets to watch: USD crosses
7am – UK inflation (February): consumer price index (CPI) forecast to fall to 2.8% YoY from 3%, and rise to 0.3% from -0.5% month-on-month (MoM). Core CPI expected to be 2.9% YoY from 3.1%. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
9am – German IFO index (March): business climate index to fall to 86 from 88.6. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
2.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 20 March): previous week saw stockpiles rise by 6.1 million barrels. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI
1.30pm – US initial jobless claims (w/e 21 March): previous reading 205K. Markets to watch: USD crosses
7am – UK retail sales (February): forecast to rise 0.1% MoM, down from 1.8%. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
Monday
12.30pm - US Chicago Fed Index (February): index expected to rise to 0.27. Markets to watch: USD crosses
11.30pm – Japan inflation (February): prices expected to rise 1.3% YoY. Markets to watch: JPY crosses
Tuesday
12.30am – Japan PMI (March, flash): manufacturing activity expected to weaken to 51 from 53. Services to fall to 51.5 from 53.8. Markets to watch: JPY crosses
8.30am – Germany PMI (March, flash): manufacturing expected to fall to 50.7 from 50.9. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
9.30am – UK PMI (March, flash): manufacturing PMI to fall to 51.1 from 51.7, and services to weaken to 51.8 from 53.9. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
1.45pm – US PMI (March, flash): manufacturing expected to fall to 50.2 from 51.6, and services to fall to 50.4 from 51.7. Markets to watch: USD crosses
Wednesday
7am – UK inflation (February): consumer price index forecast to fall to 2.8% YoY from 3%, and rise to 0.3% from -0.5% MoM. Core CPI expected to be 2.9% YoY from 3.1%. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
9am – German IFO index (March): business climate index to fall to 86 from 88.6. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
2.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 20 March): previous week saw stockpiles rise by 6.1 million barrels. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI
Thursday
1.30pm – US initial jobless claims (w/e 21 March): previous reading 205K. Markets to watch: USD crosses
Friday
7am – UK retail sales (February): forecast to rise 0.1% MoM, down from 1.8%. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
Company announcements
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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Full-year earnings |
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| Half/ Quarterly earnings | Bellway |
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| Trading update |
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Dividends
FTSE ex-dividend dates (26th March 2026):
FTSE 100: British American Tobacco, Mondi, SEGRO, St James’s Place, Smith & Nephew, Aviva, Prudential
FTSE 250: MONY, International Personal Finance, Hammerson, Lion Finance, Primary Health Properties, Volution, Ithaca Energy
Index adjustments
|
Monday 23 March |
Tuesday 24 March |
Wednesday 25 March |
Thursday 26 March |
Friday 27 March |
Monday 30 March |
| FTSE 100 | 12.44 | |||||
| Australia 200 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | ||
| Wall Street | ||||||
| US 500 | 0.06 | 0.26 | 0.02 | 0.19 | 0.04 | 0.59 |
| Nasdaq 100 | 0.56 | 0.42 | 0.17 | 1.00 | ||
| Netherlands 25 | 0.16 | |||||
| US Russell 2000 | 0.04 | 0.01 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 1.04 |
| China H-Shares | ||||||
| Japan 225 | 350.5 | |||||
| Hong Kong HS50 | ||||||
| South Africa 40 | 318.1 | 200 | ||||
| France 40 | 7.8 | |||||
| Stoxx 600 | 4.3 | 2.6 |
* Please note these can change without notice
1 Dividend adjustments due to be posted on a bank holiday will usually be posted on the previous working day
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