FXTS Weekly Market Preview: 17th-21st Feb 2025

We’re back with another market preview, where we break down the week’s most important economic releases and quarterly earnings reports from the world’s leading companies. Geopolitical tensions remain in focus as President Trump’s tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China triggered retaliatory action. China has targeted US imports, while the EU is currently considering its own response, adding to overall market uncertainty. As for stocks, big names from the retail sector will be reporting their latest quarterly results, including the likes of Walmart and Alibaba.

Economic Highlights

In the US, minutes from January’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will be released, potentially shedding light on the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) future interest rate outlook. Fed chair Jerome Powell recently indicated that rate cuts are unlikely in the short term, following last month’s higher than expected inflation figures. In neighbouring Canada, inflation data is also hot on the agenda, with January’s data due to be published on Tuesday.

Turning to the UK, it’s shaping up to be a busy week with key data releases on inflation, retail sales, and the labour market all scheduled for the coming days. Market analysts will be paying close attention to the latest economic trends, particularly after the Bank of England’s (BoE) recently halved its 2025 growth forecast from 1.5% down to 0.75%. As for Europe, Germany’s ZEW survey and the eurozone’s consumer confidence figures are out this week.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Japan publishes its preliminary Q4 GDP and January inflation numbers, while Australia’s employment figures for January will be released. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) convene for their respective February monetary policy meetings, with rate cuts on the cards for both countries.

Monday 17th February

Earnings

• BHP Group Limited (BHP) – Q2 2025

Releases

• Canada (Housing Starts, January)
• Eurozone (Balance of Trade, December)
• Indonesia (Trade, January)
• Japan (GDP, Q4)
• Japan (Industrial Production, December final)
• Singapore (Non-oil Domestic Exports, January)
• Thailand (GDP, Q4)

Tuesday 18th February

Earnings

• Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET) – Q4 2024
• Medtronic plc (MDT) – Q3 2025

Releases

• Australia (RBA Interest Rate Decision)
• Canada (Inflation, January)
• Eurozone (ZEW Economic Sentiment, February)
• France (Inflation, January final)
• Germany (ZEW Economic Sentiment, February)
• South Africa (Unemployment, Q4)
• Switzerland (Industrial Production, Q4)
• United Kingdom (Labour Market Report, December)

Wednesday 19th February

Earnings

• HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) – Q4 2024
• Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) – Q1 2025

Releases

• China (House Price Index, January)
• Indonesia (BI Interest Rate Decision)
• Japan (Machinery Orders, December)
• Japan (Trade, January)
• New Zealand (RBNZ Interest Rate Decision)
• South Africa (Inflation, January)
• United Kingdom (Inflation, January)
• United States (Building Permits and Housing Starts, January)
• United States (FOMC Minutes, January)

Thursday 20th February

Earnings

• Walmart, Inc. (WMT) – Q4 2025
• Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) – Q3 2025
• Booking Holdings, Inc. (BKNG) – Q4 2024

Releases

• Australia (Employment, January)
• Canada (New Housing Price Index, January)
• China (Loan Prime Rate, February)
• Eurozone (Consumer Confidence, February flash)
• Germany (PPI, January)
• Malaysia (Trade, January)
• Taiwan (Export Orders, January)
• Turkey (Consumer Confidence, February)

Friday 21st February

Earnings

• No noteworthy releases

Releases

• Canada (Retail Sales, January)
• Japan (Inflation, January)
• Malaysia (Inflation, January)
• Mexico (GDP, Q4 final)
• New Zealand (Trade, January)
• United Kingdom (GfK Consumer Confidence, February)
• United Kingdom (Retail Sales, January)
• United States (Existing Home Sales, January)

For a more in-depth look at the upcoming week’s key events, visit our Economic Calendar.