­Important Events This Week Mar 17-21 2014

Many of this week’s important events will happen in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including the EU’s Consumer Price Index, the minutes of the Bank of England’s meeting, and the US interest rate decision. Find out more about these events below:

 

Event: Consumer Price Index/CPI Core (MoM/YoY, Feb) – European Union

Date: March 17, 2014

Time: 10:00am (GMT)

 

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

The EU’s CPI is expected to be up in February by 0.8% over the past 12 months, and by 0.4% compared to the previous month. The core CPI is currently at 0.8%.

 

Event: ZEW Survey - Economic Sentiment/Current Situation (Mar) – Germany

Date: March 18, 2014

Time: 10:00am (GMT)

 

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

Germany’s economic sentiment is expected to be a little lower in March at 55.0 from the previous 55.7. The current situation, meanwhile, is seen to improve from 50.0 to 52.4.

 

Event: CPI data (Feb) – United States

Date: March 18, 2014

Time: 12:30pm (GMT)

 

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

The US will release a number of CPI data on Tuesday. Some of the expected numbers are the 1.2% growth of the CPI over the past 12 months, and a 1.6% growth in the CPI minus food and energy during the same period.

 

Event: Bank of England Minutes – United Kingdom

Date: March 19, 2014

Time: 9:30am (GMT)

 

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

The minutes of the meeting should give traders an inside look at how the BoE came up with its last monetary policy decision, so it shouldn’t be missed.

 

Event: Fed Interest Rate Decision/Monetary Policy Statement – United States

Date: March 19, 2014

Time: 6:00pm (GMT)

 

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

While the QE tapering is expected to continue, the US interest rate is also expected to remain at its current level at 0.25%. However, the statement might provide clues on what the Fed’s next move might be.

 

Event: SNB Interest Rate Decision – Switzerland

Date: March 20, 2014

Time: 8:30am (GMT)

 

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

The SNB is expected to maintain rates at 0%.

 

Event: CPI/CPI Core (MoM/YoY, Feb) – Canada

Date: March 21, 2014

Time: 12:30pm (GMT)

 

What It Is About and Why It’s Important

Canada will cap off the week of trading by releasing its CPI data, where growth expectations are a little lower at least in the YoY CPI seen at 0.9% (previously 1.5%), and the YoY Core CPI at 1.1% (previously 1.4%).