The CORVID-19 outbreak has paralyzed the global economy and led to sharp volatility in the currency markets. In the upcoming week, we’ll get a look at manufacturing PMIs in China and the U.S, British GDP as well as U.S. nonfarm payrolls.

The Bank of Canada slashed rates from 0.75% to 0.25%, as major central banks continue to ease policy in order to stabilize the financial markets. British CPI dipped from 1.8% to 1.7%, while German and eurozone services PMIs pointed to sharp contraction.

The U.S. dollar was broadly lower last week, following a staggering figure for unemployment claims, which hit 3.2 million. This was due to the shutdown of many factories and businesses across the country. GDP for Q4 showed a 2.1% in the third estimate, confirming the previous estimate.

  1. German Preliminary CPI: All Day. German inflation came in at 0.4% in February, matching the forecast. The estimate for the initial March reading stands at 0.0%.
  2. Chinese Manufacturing PMI: Tuesday, 1:00. The CORVID-19 outbreak caused a massive slump in manufacturing in February, as the PMI plunged to 35.7 points. This was down from 50.0 in January and well below the estimate of 45.1 points. The index is projected to improve to 44.9, which still points to contraction.
  3. UK Final GDP: Tuesday, 8:30. Economic growth rebounded in Q3 with a gain of 0.4%, after a decline of 0.2% in Q2. However, the estimate for Q4 stands at 0.0%, which points to a lack of growth.
  4. Eurozone Inflation: Tuesday, 9:00. The final reading for January CPI came in 1.2%, confirming the initial estimate. The initial estimate for March stands at 0.8%.
  5. Canadian GDP: Tuesday, 12:30. Canada releases GDP on a monthly basis. In December, the economy grew 0.3%, its best month since April. Will the upswing continue in January?
  6. US ISM Manufacturing PMI: Wednesday, 14:00. The last two readings have been just above the 50-level, which separates expansion from contraction. However, the index is expected to slow to 46.0 in the upcoming reading.
  7. U.S. Employment Reports: Friday, 12:30. Wage growth is expected to dip from 0.3% to 0.2% in March. Investors are bracing for a rare decline in nonfarm payrolls, with an estimate of -81 thousand. The unemployment rate, which was 3.5% in February, is expected to climb to 3.8%.
  8. US ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI: Friday, 14:00. The services sector has looked strong, with the PMI continuing to post readings well above the 50-level. However, analysts are braced for a sharp slowdown in March, with an estimate of 48.0 points.

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors — not necessarily OANDA’s, its officers or directors. OANDA’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy apply. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

Recommended Content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD recovers toward 1.0400 as USD rally loses steam

EUR/USD recovers toward 1.0400 as USD rally loses steam

EUR/USD recovers from daily lows toward 1.0400 in the American session on Tuesday. Following the earlier rally, the USD struggles to preserve its strength as the bullish opening in Wall Street's main indexes point to an improving risk mood.

EUR/USD News
GBP/USD stays below 1.2300 after UK employment data

GBP/USD stays below 1.2300 after UK employment data

GBP/USD rebounds from session lows but remains below 1.2300 in the second half of the day on Tuesday. The US Dollar clings to modest gains but finds it difficult to gather further bullish momentum as the impact of Trump's tariff threats fade.

GBP/USD News
Gold now targets the all-time high near $2,800

Gold now targets the all-time high near $2,800

Gold gathers bullish momentum and trades at its highest level since early November above $2,730 on Tuesday. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield is down more than 1% below 4.6% following US President Trump's tariff threats, helping XAU/USD push higher.

Gold News
Bitcoin fails to sustain the $109K mark after Trump’s inauguration

Bitcoin fails to sustain the $109K mark after Trump’s inauguration

Bitcoin’s price steadies above the $102,000 mark on Tuesday after reaching a new all-time high of $109,588 the previous day. Santiment’s data shows that BTC prices quickly corrected, as social media showed major greed and FOMO among the traders in Bitcoin after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Read more
Prepare for huge US trade changes as Trump goes America first

Prepare for huge US trade changes as Trump goes America first

You can be sure that big changes are coming as far as US trade is concerned, even if we didn't get any new tariffs on President Trump's first day in office. A comprehensive investigation into US trade relationships was initiated via a memorandum. China, Canada, and Mexico are clearly in the immediate firing line. 

Read more
Trusted Broker Reviews for Smarter Trading

Trusted Broker Reviews for Smarter Trading

VERIFIED Discover in-depth reviews of reliable brokers. Compare features like spreads, leverage, and platforms. Find the perfect fit for your trading style, from CFDs to Forex pairs like EUR/USD and Gold.

Read More

Majors

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures