Macro Outlook for Next Week: Global Markets to Face a "Data Bombardment" Week, with Fed Minutes and PCE Releases Coming Soon

PANews reported on February 15th that global markets will be bombarded with data next week. The Federal Reserve will release the minutes of its January monetary policy meeting at 3:00 AM on Thursday, with the market looking for further clues about the path of interest rate cuts in 2026. The focus will be on the preliminary US Q4 GDP figures and core PCE price index, to be released at 9:30 PM on Friday. As the Fed's preferred inflation indicator, a higher-than-expected PCE reading could affect the pace of policy easing this year.

Federal Reserve and Central Bank Updates: Several Federal Reserve officials are scheduled to speak, the Reserve Bank of Australia will release its meeting minutes, and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand will announce its interest rate decision. The market widely expects the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to hold rates steady, while the Reserve Bank of Australia may emphasize upside risks to inflation.

Major Event: The Supreme Court of the United States will release its opinion on February 20, including a ruling on the case concerning Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff policies. An unfavorable ruling could significantly impact related tariff measures and affect global trade and market sentiment.

At the company level, earnings season is drawing to a close. Walmart will release its fourth-quarter results, with the market focusing on key indicators such as e-commerce growth, AI applications, and the impact of tariffs, as these indicators could significantly influence retail and overall market sentiment.