Economic calendar: ECB Minutes and PMI data in focus

• European futures indicate a higher opening for the stock market session on the Old Continent.
• The Nikkei 225 has reached new ATH
• PMI data and ECB Minutes are in focus

Market sentiments in Asia-Pacific were characterized by bullish enthusiasm, especially in Japan, where the Nikkei 225 reached new historical highs. The Chinese Hang Seng gained 0.61%, and the China A50 added 0.24%. Only Indian indices faced downward pressure. European futures point to a higher opening for the stock market session on the Old Continent.

Key events of the day include: PMI data for February, the HICP inflation report in the Eurozone, CBRT's decision on interest rates, ECB Minutes, U.S. unemployment benefit data, U.S. oil and gas inventory changes, and numerous speeches by Fed bankers.

Macro Calendar:

• 08:15 am GMT - France, PMI index for manufacturing (for February): Forecast: 43.5. Previous: 43.1.
• 08:15 am GMT - France, PMI index for services (for February): Forecast: 45.6. Previous: 45.4.
• 08:30 am GMT - Germany, PMI index for manufacturing (February): Forecast: 46.1. Previous: 45.5.
• 08:30 am GMT - Germany, PMI index for services (February): Forecast: 48.0. Previous: 47.7.
• 09:00 am GMT - Poland, retail sales (for January; YoY): Forecast: 3.5% YoY. Previous: 0.5% YoY.
• 09:00 am GMT - Eurozone, PMI index for manufacturing (for February): Forecast: 47.0. Previous: 46.6.
• 09:00 am GMT - Eurozone, PMI index for services (for February): Forecast: 48.8. Previous: 48.4.
• 09:30 am GMT - UK, PMI index for manufacturing (for February): Forecast: 47.5. Previous: 47.0.
• 09:30 am GMT - UK, PMI index for services (for February): Forecast: 54.1. Previous: 54.3.
• 10:00 am GMT - Eurozone, HICP core inflation (for January; YoY): Forecast: 3.3% YoY. Previous: 3.4% YoY.
• 11:00 am GMT - Turkey, CBRT decision on interest rates. Forecast: 45.0%. Previous: 45.0%.
• 12:30 pm GMT - Eurozone, ECB Minutes.
• 13:30 pm GMT - U.S., unemployment benefit data. Forecast: 216 thousand. Previous: 212 thousand.
• 13:30 pm GMT - Canada, retail sales for December. Forecast: 0.8% MoM. Previous: -0.2% MoM.
• 14:45 pm GMT - U.S., PMI index for manufacturing (for February). Forecast: 50.5. Previous: 50.7.
• 14:45 pm GMT - U.S., PMI index for services (for February). Forecast: 52.0. Previous: 52.5.
• 15:00 pm GMT - U.S., existing home sales (for January). Forecast: 3.96 million. Previous: 3.78 million.
• 15:30 pm GMT - U.S., natural gas inventory changes. Forecast: -59 Bcf. Previous: -49 Bcf.
• 16:00 pm GMT - U.S., crude oil inventory changes. Forecast: 4.03 million barrels. Previous: 12.02 million barrels.

Key Earnings on Wall Street:

Booking Holdings (BKNG.US) - after the market close.

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP.US) - before the market open.

Moderna (MRNA.US) - before the market open.

Nikola Corporation (NKLA.US) - before the market open.