Policy meetings on all fronts

There has been a lot of talking in the last few days concerning the March meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. But that won’t be the only policy meeting taking place this week. We have put together 3 key events you cannot miss in the week ahead.

United States
Interest rate decision: Wednesday - 19:00 GMT
After a batch of upbeat economic data and hawkish remarks by FOMC officials, the regulator is gathering for a fresh two-day monetary policy meeting on Tuesday.
Last week, nonfarm payrolls for February came in well above expectations at 235,000. Analysts had forecasted a 200,000 build. The unemployment rate matched an estimated 4.7 percent.
Market participants are currently pricing in more than a 90 percent chance of rate hike this month, according to CME Group’s FedWatch program.
Benchmark rates were updated in December 2016 for the second time in almost a decade to 0.50 - 0.75 percent. Now, investors anticipate a new raise of 25 basis points. Following the FOMC rate announcement at 19:00 GMT, Fed Chair Janet Yellen will offer a press conference.
As she has recently changed to a more hawkish pro-hike rhetoric, investors will be searching for further arguments on whether the regulator continues on that path or will take a breather until more economic indicators under Trump’s administration are published.

Japan
Interest rate decision: Thursday - 03:00 GMT
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda and his team will gather to assess the state of the economy and understand if their current settings need some sort of adjustment.
The central bank is expected to leave all settings unchanged, including its rate at 0.1 percent and the 10-year bond yield close to 0 percent. The bond-buying program is also seen at the current 80 trillion yen/year. BOJ Kuroda is due to speak after the meeting.

England
Interest rate decision: Thursday - 12:00 GMT
Alright, let’s admit it. Nothing like a juicy volatile Fed meeting to shake our mid-week charts. For those who missed the party on Wednesday, the Bank of England offers another relevant monetary meeting to follow a day later. So don’t worry, join the afterparty.
Although, we have to be honest. No changes are expected in terms of monetary policy at this stage of the year. That’s right, BOE officials are still waiting for the government to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and officially kick off the Brexit process.
Please... no long faces. Prime Minister Theresa May has already expressed her intention to fill out the papers by the end of this month. In other words, the fun will probably come at the next meeting.