ECONOMETER

There continues to be a disconnection between rising geopolitical risks as tensions between Russia and Ukraine intensify, and the performance of equity markets. US equities ended the week on a high note despite a bigger than expected downward revision to US Q4 GDP and risk sentiment overall remained supported according to our risk barometer. Other data were helpful for markets as February Chicago manufacturing confidence (PMI) and Michigan consumer confidence came in better than expected. The firmer tone to risk assets will not last, with risk aversion set to intensify today.

Markets continue to give US economic data the benefit of the doubt, downplaying the harsh weather impact on economic data. This is set to continue this week, with the release of a plethora of US data including January personal income and spending and February ISM manufacturing confidence, February vehicle sales, the Fed’s Beige Book, January trade balance and last but not least February non farm payrolls at the end of the week. All of the data will be hit by recent unseasonable US weather and therefore will look weak on balance, but markets will once again not fret a great deal.

There are several other key events this week that will garner market attention including central bank decisions from the Reserve Bank of Australia tomorrow, Bank of England, and European Central Bank on Thursday. Hopes that the ECB will easy monetary policy were dashed somewhat by a higher than expected reading for Eurozone HICP February inflation although there is still a possibility that some easing in liquidity conditions are announced. The RBA and BoE are not expected to change monetary policy settings this week.