The Week Ahead
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Week commencing 2 March
Chris Beauchamp's insight
US job numbers dominate the week, culminating in the Friday payrolls report, but the monthly US ISM numbers are also published, along with Chinese PMIs. This marks the return to pre-eminence of economic data, after weeks of earnings. It is another busy week for UK company data, including Fresnillo, last year’s star performer, Reckitt Benckiser, the consumer staples giant, and insurer Admiral. The main US company reporting this week is Broadcom, which has seen its shares struggle since September.
Economic reports
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Weekly view
1.45am – China RatingDog manufacturing PMI (February): index expected to rise to 50.5 from 50.3. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
3pm – US ISM manufacturing PMI (February): index forecast to fall to 51.3 from 52.6. Markets to watch: USD crosses
10am – eurozone inflation (February, flash): prices expected to rise 1.7% YoY, in line with January, and 0.4% MoM, from a 0.6% drop in January. Core CPI expected to hold at 2.2% YoY. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
1.30am – China NBS PMI (February): manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) expected to rise to 49.9 from 49.7, while non-manufacturing rises to 50 from 49.4. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
1.45am – China RatingDog services PMI (February): expected to fall to 51.7 from 52.3. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
5am – Japan consumer confidence (February): index expected to rise to 38.1 from 37.9. Markets to watch: JPY crosses
1.15pm – US ADP employment report (February): 19,000 jobs expected, down from 22,000. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3pm – US ISM services PMI (February): index forecast to fall to 53, from 53.8, indicating slowing activity. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 27 February): stockpiles rose by 15.9 million barrels in the preceding week. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI
9.30am – UK construction PMI (February): expected to rise to 47 from 46.4. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
1.30pm – US initial jobless claims (w/e 28 February). Markets to watch: USD crosses
1.30pm – US non-farm payrolls (February), retail sales (January): payrolls expected to be 70K, down from 130K a month earlier. Unemployment rate expected to hold at 4.3%, average hourly earnings forecast to rise 0.3% month-on-month (MoM) and 3.6% year-on-year (YoY), down from 0.4% and 3.7% respectively. Meanwhile, retail sales expected to rise 0.1% MoM. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses
3pm – Canada Ivey PMI (February): previous reading 50.9. Markets to watch: CAD crosses
Monday
1.45am – China RatingDog manufacturing PMI (February): index expected to rise to 50.5 from 50.3. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
3pm – US ISM manufacturing PMI (February): index forecast to fall to 51.3 from 52.6. Markets to watch: USD crosses
Tuesday
10am – eurozone inflation (February, flash): prices expected to rise 1.7% YoY, in line with January, and 0.4% MoM, from a 0.6% drop in January. Core CPI expected to hold at 2.2% YoY. Markets to watch: EUR crosses
Wednesday
1.30am – China NBS PMI (February): manufacturing PMI expected to rise to 49.9 from 49.7, while non-manufacturing rises to 50 from 49.4. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
1.45am – China RatingDog services PMI (February): expected to fall to 51.7 from 52.3. Markets to watch: CNH crosses
5am – Japan consumer confidence (February): index expected to rise to 38.1 from 37.9. Markets to watch: JPY crosses
1.15pm – US ADP employment report (February): 19,000 jobs expected, down from 22,000. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3pm – US ISM services PMI (February): index forecast to fall to 53, from 53.8, indicating slowing activity. Markets to watch: USD crosses
3.30pm – US EIA crude oil inventories (w/e 27 February): stockpiles rose by 15.9 million barrels in the preceding week. Markets to watch: Brent, WTI
Thursday
9.30am – UK construction PMI (February): expected to rise to 47 from 46.4. Markets to watch: GBP crosses
1.30pm – US initial jobless claims (w/e 28 February). Markets to watch: USD crosses
Friday
1.30pm – US non-farm payrolls (February), retail sales (January): payrolls expected to be 70K, down from 130K a month earlier. Unemployment rate expected to hold at 4.3%, average hourly earnings forecast to rise 0.3% MoM and 3.6% YoY, down from 0.4% and 3.7% respectively. Meanwhile, retail sales expected to rise 0.1% MoM. Markets to watch: US indices, USD crosses
3pm – Canada Ivey PMI (February): previous reading 50.9. Markets to watch: CAD crosses
Company announcements
Dividends
FTSE ex-dividend dates (5th March 2026):
FTSE 100: Rio Tinto
FTSE 250: Dr. Martens, Renishaw, Energean, Genus
Index adjustments
|
Monday 2 March |
Tuesday 3 March |
Wednesday 4 March |
Thursday 5 March |
Friday 6 March |
Monday 9 March |
| FTSE 100 | 8.32 | |||||
| Australia 200 | 2.3 | 4.9 | 35.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 4.4 |
| Wall Street | 11.5 | 13.6 | 6.8 | |||
| US 500 | 0.27 | 0.10 | 0.25 | 0.98 | 0.71 | 0.69 |
| Nasdaq 100 | 0.72 | 0.70 | 1.74 | 4.06 | 1.36 | |
| Netherlands 25 | ||||||
| US Russell 2000 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.40 | 0.24 | 0.18 |
| China H-Shares | 0.7 | |||||
| Japan 225 | ||||||
| Hong Kong HS50 | 1.6 | |||||
| South Africa 40 | 34.4 | |||||
| France 40 | ||||||
| Stoxx 600 |
* 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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