Markets Prepare for March Flash PMIs – Orbex Forex Trading Blog

Plans to halve the attainment gap between the poorest pupils in England and their more affluent peers will be set out by the government on Monday. The schools white paper will detail proposals to change the criteria under which schools receive funding to support the most disadvantaged students. Disadvantage funding is now allocated based on…

ING’s Min Joo Kang expects Japan’s economy to maintain similar growth to the previous quarter, with first-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) seen rising 0.3% quarter-on-quarter. The war-related energy shock is judged to have limited impact on trade and growth but a more visible effect on inflation. ING forecasts April inflation at 1.8% year-on-year, helped by…

Late yesterday it appeared that US-Iran negotiations were headed for catastrophe after Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan without a deal but not all hope is yet lost if you read between the lines from the latest statements. The most-recent one is from Trump, who said the US will clear mines in the Strait of…

Across the Pacific, market focus will turn to consumer sentiment and the Fed’s policy stance. Economists forecast the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index to fall from 55.1 in September to 54.2 in October. A lower reading would likely raise expectations of October and December Fed rate cuts, potentially pushing USD/JPY toward 150. Weaker sentiment may cool…

The declines in the major indices were symmetrically worse going from the Dow, to the S&P to the Nasdaq. Rounding, the Dow fell -1.00%, the S&P fell -1.50%, and the Nasdaq fell by -2.00%. All three indices also closed below its 200 day MA this week. The Dow 200 day MA is at 46562. The…