The week ahead features policy decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve, Bank of England and Brazil’s central bank. Several cited recent tax cuts and an increase in federal spending as reasons to expect inflation and economic growth will pick up. WEDNESDAY: Brazil’s central bank is expected to cut its Selic benchmark rate to 6.5% from 6.75%, further delaying the end of an easing cycle launched in October 2016. THURSDAY: Policy makers at the European Central Bank worry that the threat of a trade conflict in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports may weaken business and consumer confidence. Economists expect to see the composite PMI fall to 56.7 in March, from 57.1 in February, and the Ifo measure of business expectations to fall to 104.2, from 105.4.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 18, 2018 18:56 UTC