Fundamentals to watch out for this week

In terms of volatility risks, this week is extremely heavy with the focus on Brexit, key economic data, trade talks, and central bankers,

What to watch for over the coming days:

Central Banks:

• Fed chair Powell to testify before congressional banking committee on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• UK inflation report hearings on Tuesday.

Economic data:

• U.S. trade balance, durable goods report, pending home sales and factory orders due on Wednesday; Q4 GDP report on Thursday, and PCE inflation report on Friday.  
• Eurozone sentiment reports are due on Wednesday.
• Japan industrial production and retail trade stats on Wednesday; inflation and unemployment reports due on Thursday.  
• China official PMI reports on Thursday and Caixin PMI report on Friday.
• Switzerland Q4 GDP report on Thursday.
• German inflation report on Thursday.
• UK manufacturing PMI on Friday.

Geopolitics:

• President Trump has announced an extension of 1st March tariff deadline; still, the focus would remain on development in lieu of trade negotiations.
• Two-day EU-Arab league summit ends on Monday.
• If no Brexit deal has been reached by Feb. 26, the British government will make a statement to Parliament on Feb. 26, and members will debate an amendable motion on Feb. 27.
• Prime Minister May to address parliament on Tuesday.
• President Donald Trump to meet North Korean Kim Jong-Un on Wednesday in the summit to be held in Vietnam.