• A rare convergence of the Fed, ECB, BoE, and BoJ all meeting within 48 hours dominates the week, with no rate moves expected but guidance closely scrutinized given the Iran-driven energy price shock that has already erased DM cut expectations and introduced BoE hike pricing.
• Inflation data — US, German, Canadian, and EU CPI/PPI releases — will either validate or temper that hawkish repricing.
• Nvidia’s GTC conference is the marquee event on equities which have been struggling with private credit concerns, cooling hyperscaler/AI sentiment & the Iranian war. 
• Geopolitically, 1) Japanese PM Takaichi’s WH visit Thursday carries tail risk (Trump’s public demand for Japanese naval deployment to the Strait of Hormuz is a pressure point), 2) theres an EU leaders’ summit in Brussels to discuss the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine, 3) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, USTR Jamieson Greer expected to meet China trade delegation in Paris, through March 16. 
• Asian governments including the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Pakistan are implementing emergency fuel conservation measures (think COVID-lite measures 4-day workweeks, mandatory remote work & school closures) in response to a severe energy crisis triggered by the Strait of Hormuz closure. Underappreciated negative hit to EM growth.
• Eid al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan where some ME markets have been closed.

Monday, March 16

ECONOMIC DATA:

• Canada housing starts, CPI
• China retail sales, industrial production
• India wholesale prices
• Philippines remittances
• UK Rightmove house prices
• US Empire State manufacturing, industrial production

EVENTS:

• The EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting is held in Brussels to discuss the situation in the Middle East and Russia’s war against Ukraine.
• Nvidia’s GTC, a global AI conference, is held in San Jose, California, through March 19, with CEO Jensen Huang delivering a keynote speech.

Tuesday, March 17

ECONOMIC DATA:

• Australia rate decision
• Germany ZEW survey expectations
• Indonesia rate decision
• Italy CPI
• Japan tertiary index
• Morocco rate decision
• New Zealand food prices
• Singapore trade
• Sri Lanka GDP
• US Conference Board leading index, pending home sales

EVENTS:

• RBA Governor Michele Bullock holds a press conference following the central bank’s policy decision.
• St. Patrick’s Day; President Donald Trump hosts Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the White House.
• German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot hold joint Q&A at Europe 2026 forum in Berlin.
• The 2026 NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament, better known as March Madness, begins with the “first four” games in Dayton, Ohio. The event runs through April 6.

Wednesday, March 18

ECONOMIC DATA:

• Brazil rate decision
• Canada rate decision
• Eurozone CPI
• Ghana rate decision
• Iceland rate decision
• Japan trade
• Mexico international reserves
• South Africa CPI, retail sales
• South Korea unemployment
• US FOMC rate decision, PPI, factory orders, durable goods, TIC flows

EVENTS:

• The Fed is expected to hold rates steady in a target range of 3.5% to 3.75%. Chair Jerome Powell holds a news conference.
• Governor Tiff Macklem holds a press conference after Bank of Canada’s rate decision.
• Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu makes the nation’s first state visit to the UK in 37 years.
• Josh D’Amaro becomes CEO of The Walt Disney Co., which holds its annual shareholders meeting the same day.

Thursday, March 19

ECONOMIC DATA:

• Australia unemployment
• Czech rate decision
• Eurozone ECB rate decision
• Japan rate decision, machinery orders, industrial production
• Malaysia trade, CPI
• New Zealand GDP
• Netherlands unemployment
• Philippines balance of payments
• Sweden rate decision
• Switzerland rate decision, trade
• Taiwan rate decision
• UK rate decision, jobless claims, unemployment
• US wholesale inventories, new home sales, initial jobless claims, Philadelphia Fed outlook
• Ukraine rate decision

EVENTS:

• EU heads of state meet in Brussels for a European Council meeting. Through March 20.
• The ECB is set to keep rates steady. President Christine Lagarde holds a press conference.
• The BOJ is expected to keep rates unchanged. Governor Kazuo Ueda will address inflation trends and external risks in his post-meeting briefing.
• Swiss National Bank President Martin Schlegel speaks after the central bank’s rate decision.
• Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump in Washington, her first official visit to the US since taking office.
• Thai parliament votes on a candidate for prime minister, a key step for government formation after the Feb. 8 election.
• Bank of America conference in Paris.
• Eid al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. Markets are closed in several Middle Eastern countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Friday, March 20

ECONOMIC DATA:

• Canada retail sales
• China loan prime rates
• Hong Kong CPI
• New Zealand trade
• Russia rate decision
• Taiwan export orders

EVENTS:

• ECB Governing Council member Joachim Nagel speaks on German economy in Goslar.
• Quadruple witching in US markets, with stock-index futures and options, as well as single-stock options and futures, all expiring.
• The Spring Equinox marks the start of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere.