The Week Ahead
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
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to more than 15,000+ global markets, with reliable execution
Deal seamlessly, wherever you are
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app
Feel secure with a trusted provider
With 45 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
Huge range of markets
Our spread betting and CFD accounts enable you to trade over 15,000+ markets, with index, commodity and bond futures available
A trusted provider
With over 45 years' experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
Deep futures liquidity
Get fast, flexible execution thanks to our large client base and superior technology
Get the latest shares news
Connect with us
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Professional clients trading spread bets and CFDs can lose more than they deposit.
The value of shares, ETFs and other ETPs bought through a share dealing account, a stocks and shares ISA or a SIPP can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Some ETPs carry additional risks depending on how they’re structured, investors should ensure they familiarise themselves with the differences before investing.
Share dealing and IG Smart Portfolio accounts provided by IG Trading and Investments Ltd, CFD accounts and futures accounts are provided by IG Markets Ltd, spread betting provided by IG Index Ltd.
IG is a trading name of IG Trading and Investments Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 11628764), IG Markets Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 04008957) and IG Index Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 01190902). Registered address at Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2YA. IG Markets Ltd (Register number 195355), IG Trading and Investments Ltd (Register Number 944492) and IG Index Ltd (Register number 114059) are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The information on this site isn’t directed at residents of the United States, Belgium or any particular country outside the UK and isn’t intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.
