{"id":22985,"date":"2025-03-17T15:47:56","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T15:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/?p=17488"},"modified":"2025-03-17T15:47:56","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T15:47:56","slug":"week-ahead-fed-decision-and-inflation-data-set-to-steer-global-markets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/week_ahead\/week-ahead-fed-decision-and-inflation-data-set-to-steer-global-markets\/","title":{"rendered":"Week ahead: Fed decision and inflation data set to steer global markets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/04\/33-15-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17495\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next week, global markets will be driven by key central bank decisions, economic data releases, and geopolitical developments. Investors will focus on the Federal Reserve\u2019s policy outlook, inflation reports, and economic activity indicators from major economies. Volatility is expected across equities, forex, and commodities as markets respond to these crucial events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>KEY INDICATORS<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Monday, 17 March<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><sub><strong>Eurozone final CPI (February)<\/strong> \u2013 Confirms inflation trends ahead of the ECB\u2019s next policy move.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub><strong>US NAHB housing market index (March)<\/strong> \u2013 Provides insights into the health of the US real estate sector.<\/sub><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wednesday, 19 March<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><sub><strong>Federal Reserve interest rate decision &amp; economic projections<\/strong> \u2013 Markets will focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalreserve.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"Fed Chair Powell\u2019s comments\">Fed Chair Powell\u2019s comments<\/a> for signals on future rate moves.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub><strong>Market reaction<\/strong> \u2013 Potential impact on equities, bonds, and the US dollar.<\/sub><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Thursday, 20 March<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><sub><strong>Bank of England (BoE) interest rate decision<\/strong> \u2013 The BoE\u2019s stance on inflation and potential rate cuts will be closely watched.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub><strong>US jobless claims &amp; existing home sales (February)<\/strong> \u2013 Labour market trends and housing market strength will influence market sentiment.<\/sub><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/04\/wmo_17032025_1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17489\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chinese stocks close at three-month high, leading gains in Asia, despite fall on Wall Street<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><sub>Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose on Friday, despite a plunge in all three benchmarks in the US over the previous session amid concern about President Donald Trump\u2019s tariff plans.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>Mainland China\u2019s CSI 300 led gains in Asia, rising 2.43% to end the day at a three-month high of 4,006.56. This follows stronger movements in the healthcare, consumer cyclicals, and non-cyclicals sectors.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>Hong Kong\u2019s Hang Seng Index rose 2.12% to end the day at 23,959.98.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 ended the day 0.72% higher at 37,053.10, while the broader Topix index rose 0.65% to 2,715.85.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>South Korea\u2019s Kospi index lost 0.28% to close at 2,566.36, while the small-cap Kosdaq advanced 1.59% to 734.26.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>Australia\u2019s S&amp;P\/ASX 200 ended the trading day 0.52% higher at 7,789.70.<\/sub><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/04\/wmo_17032025_2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17490\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dollar edges higher ahead of Michigan sentiment data; euro slips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><sub>The US dollar edged higher on Friday amid growing expectations that a government shutdown can be averted, while the euro handed back recent gains amid concerns that a global trade war risks a sharp regional economic downturn.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>At 9:15 AM GMT, the Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, traded 0.2% higher at 103.982, moving further away from Tuesday\u2019s trough of 103.21, its lowest since mid-October.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>The greenback has fallen more than 4% so far this year, retreating from the six-month high seen in January, as the uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration\u2019s trade policies raised fears of a US recession.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>In Europe, EUR\/USD traded marginally lower at 1.0851, sliding further from Tuesday\u2019s five-month peak as the EU-US trade spat rattled traders and after Germany struggled to pass a massive spending proposal.<\/sub><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>MARKET MOVERS<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Crude Oil WTI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/04\/wmo_17032025_3-1024x486.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17491\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential short preference<\/strong><br>Short positions below 66.56 with targets at 66.16 &amp; 65.48 in extension.<br><strong>Alternative scenario<br><\/strong>Above 67.42 look for further upside with 67.88 &amp; 68.48 as targets.<br><strong>The RSI is below its neutrality area at 50%<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>XAU\/USD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/04\/wmo_17032025_4-1024x488.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17492\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential long preference<br><\/strong>Long positions above 2997.21 with targets at 3005.29 &amp; 3016.05 in extension.<br><strong>Alternative scenario<br><\/strong>Below 2978.38 look for further downside with 2962.38 &amp; 2945.51 as targets.<br><strong>The next resistances are at 3005.29 and then at 3016.05.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Technical indicators<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/04\/wmo_17032025_5.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17493\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>DAX40<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/04\/wmo_17032025_6-1024x486.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17494\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The long preference<br><\/strong>Long positions above 23014.0 with targets at 23105.6 &amp; 23210.7 in extension.<br><strong>Alternative scenario<br><\/strong>Below 22888.8 look for further downside with 22785.9 &amp; 22631.7 as targets.<br><strong>A support base at 22785.9 has formed and has allowed for a temporary stabilisation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>NEWS HEADLINES<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>US stocks climb with government shutdown likely averted, consumer sentiment slips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><sub>US stocks rose on Friday, bouncing back at the end of the week after the bellwether S&amp;P 500 index slipped into correction territory on concerns over an escalating trade war and potential recession.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>At 1:45 PM GMT, the <strong>Dow Jones Industrial Average<\/strong> traded <strong>270 points, or 0.7%, higher<\/strong>.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>The <strong>S&amp;P 500 index<\/strong> rose <strong>68 points, or 1.2%<\/strong>.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>The <strong>NASDAQ Composite<\/strong> gained <strong>295 points, or 1.7%<\/strong>.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>The <strong>S&amp;P 500<\/strong> closed <strong>1.4% lower<\/strong> on Thursday, entering correction territory, which is typically defined as a <strong>10% fall from a recent peak<\/strong>.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>The <strong>Dow is on track<\/strong> for its second straight losing week and its worst weekly decline since June 2022. This would be the <strong>fourth consecutive negative week<\/strong> for the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq.<\/sub><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Oil prices set to end the week stable as investors mull path to Ukraine ceasefire<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><sub>Oil prices edged higher on Friday after a <strong>more than 1% loss<\/strong> in the previous session, as investors weighed the diminishing prospects of a quick end to the Ukraine war that could bring more Russian energy supplies back to Western markets.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub><strong>Brent crude futures<\/strong> were up <strong>36 cents, or 0.52%, to USD 70.24 per barrel<\/strong> at 3:30 PM GMT, after settling 1.5% lower in the previous session.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub><strong>US West Texas Intermediate (WTI)<\/strong> crude was at <strong>USD 66.94 per barrel, up 39 cents, or 0.59%<\/strong>, after closing 1.7% lower on Thursday.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>Prices are set to <strong>end the week relatively stable<\/strong>, with Brent settling at <strong>USD 70.36<\/strong> and WTI at <strong>USD 67.04<\/strong> last Friday.<\/sub><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gold prices break USD 3,000\/oz level, new record high on tariff fears<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><sub>Gold prices surged to an <strong>all-time high<\/strong> on Friday, breaking through the key <strong>USD 3,000 per ounce<\/strong> level, supported by <strong>US President Donald Trump\u2019s fresh tariff threats<\/strong>, while soft US inflation data further lifted sentiment.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub>At 12:30 AM GMT, <strong>spot gold<\/strong> was up <strong>0.6% at USD 3,009.11 per ounce<\/strong>, after reaching a fresh record high of <strong>USD 3,017.11<\/strong> earlier in the session.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub><strong>Gold futures expiring in April<\/strong> gained <strong>0.3% to USD 2,998.78 per ounce<\/strong>.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub><strong>Platinum futures<\/strong> rose <strong>0.9% to USD 1,015.00 per ounce<\/strong>.<\/sub><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><sub><strong>Silver futures<\/strong> gained <strong>1.3% to USD 34.755 per ounce<\/strong>.<\/sub><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.net\/trade-now\/?utm_campaign=account_c&amp;utm_source=market_forecast&amp;utm_medium=website\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"here\">here<\/a> to open account and start trading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Next week, global markets will be driven by key central bank decisions, economic data releases, and geopolitical developments. Investors will focus on the Federal Reserve\u2019s policy outlook, inflation reports, and economic activity indicators from major economies. Volatility is expected across equities, forex, and commodities as markets respond to these crucial events. KEY INDICATORS Monday, 17 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/week_ahead\/week-ahead-fed-decision-and-inflation-data-set-to-steer-global-markets\/\" class=\"read-more\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":17495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-week_ahead"],"acf":{"acf_article_selection_author":null},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22985"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22985\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/it-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}