📣 Markets Watch: Growth Confirmation and Inflation Updates as Q1 Momentum Builds (Feb 23–Mar 01, 2026)

What to Watch This Week: Key Events: As February draws to a close, markets turn toward growth confirmation and late-month inflation readings. After digesting central-bank minutes and preliminary activity data, attention now shifts to whether hard data aligns with policy expectations. With month-end positioning also in play, volatility may pick up around key releases across FX, rates, and equity indices.

 Key Global Economic Events to Watch (Feb 23–Mar 01)

📌 Additional Factors to Monitor

• U.S. PCE inflation — the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure — may carry increased weight following recent CPI and policy communications.

• Month-end rebalancing flows could amplify moves, particularly in FX and fixed income markets.

🧭 Under-Radar / High-Importance Signals Ahead

• Next Monday (Mar 02): Global Manufacturing PMI releases may influence how markets extend reactions to this week’s GDP and inflation data.

• If PCE and GDP diverge meaningfully (e.g., resilient growth but sticky inflation), expectations for March policy guidance could shift rapidly.

🔎 Key Themes for the Week

• Inflation vs. Growth Balance: Markets will assess whether price pressures are easing without undermining economic momentum.

• Policy Calibration: PCE and GDP data may reshape expectations for the timing of future central-bank adjustments.

• Positioning Dynamics: With February closing out, portfolio flows and risk management adjustments may intensify short-term volatility.