Geopolitical Calendar: March 13 - 21, 2022:
Sunday, March 13:
> Political Events/Social Events –
o Colombia holds elections for Senate, House of Representatives, and who will run in presidential primaries
o Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid meets with Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu in Bucharest
> Economic Events -
o No significant reports/events
Monday, March 14:
> Political Events/Social Events –
o US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and members of the National Security Council (NSC) meet with China’s lead foreign policy official, Yang Jiechi, in Rome to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
o NATO begins “Operation Cold Response” - NATO’s largest military training exercises since the end of the Cold War with more than 30,000 NATO troops participating – non-NATO members Sweden and Finland are also scheduled to participate
o EU Eurogroup meets in Brussels along with Economic and Financial Advisors (March 14-15) in Brussels to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
o German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets with Turkish President Recep Erdogan in Ankara, Turkey to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
o China to being releasing soybean stocks from state-owned Sinograin for auction to help alleviate domestic supply commodity fluctuations
o China to hold maritime military drills in South China Seas (but may actually for recovery of downed aircraft)
o Israeli Foreign Minister Lapid Slovakian Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok in Bratislava
o Commonwealth Day celebrated by 52 former British colonies in London
o White Day is celebrated in Japan (where men send presents to women who sent them gifts last month for Valentine’s Day)
o National Pi Day (because today is 3.14, the value of Pi)
> Economic Events –
o World Bank President David Malpass to speak on the global financial impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
o France trade balance
o India GDP
o UK Office of National Statistics annual review of “shopping basket” items making up the consumer price inflation indices
o Sri Lanka GDP
o Botswana inflation data
Tuesday, March 15:
> Political Events/Social Events–
o UN Security Council holds briefing on the UN Mission in South Sudan as its mandate ends
o Possible no-confidence vote in Pakistan National Assembly of Prime Minister Imran Khan following break-down of ruling coalition
o Somalia holds lower House elections
o EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council meets in Brussels to discuss impact of sanctions on Russia among other issues
o Ukrainian President Zelensky to address Canadian Parliament by video
o Ides of March
> Economic Events –
o US PPIs
o Central Bank of Russia due to pay $117 million in coupons on dollar bonds
o China Industrial Production, Property Investment, Fixed Assets Retail Sales
o Germany ZEW Survey Expectations
o UK Jobless Claims
o Eurozone ZEW Survey Expectations, Industrial Production
o Japan Trade Balance
o Canada Housing Starts, Manufacturing Sales
o OPEC monthly oil market report
o Indonesia Exports, Imports, Trade Balance
o Nigeria inflation numbers
o Namibia inflation numbers
Wednesday, March 16:
> Political Events –
o United Nations holds a briefing and consultation with UN Support Mission in Libya on sanctions on Libya
o NATO Defense Ministers hold an emergency meeting in Brussels
o Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farham Al Saud to visit Bangladesh
o Colombia holds legislative elections to elect 102 members of the Senate and 166 members of the House of Representatives
o the Netherlands holds municipal elections
o ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
> Economic Events –
o US Federal Reserve Board rate decision
o US Retail Sales, Import Price Index, Export Price Index, Business Inventories, NAHB Housing Market Index
o China New Home Prices
o APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies meeting
o Japan Capacity Utilization, Core Machine Orders
o Canada CPI, Wholesale Trade Sales
o South Korea Unemployment Numbers
o South Africa Retail Sales
o Ghana Producer Inflation
o International Energy Agency monthly market report
Thursday, March 17:
> Political Event/Social Events –
o EU’s Environmental Council meets in Brussels
o ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat (March 16-17)
o Ukraine’s President Zelensky scheduled to address German Bundestag (parliament)
o St. Patrick’s Day celebrated; Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Martin meets with President Biden and key members of Congress in Washington DC
o Purim – Annual festive Jewish holiday (March 17-18)
> Economic Events –
o Bank of England meeting
o Eurozone inflation data (Feb)
o US Housing Starts, Building Permits, Initial Jobless Claims, Industrial Production, Capacity Utilization
o Japan CPI
o Spain trade balance figures (Jan)
o Singapore Exports, Imports, Trade Balance, NODX
o Hong Kong Unemployment
o Indonesia Central Bank meeting
o Taiwan Central Bank meeting
o South Africa Q1 Consumer Confidence
Friday, March 18:
> Political Events/Social Events –
o ASEAN’s Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECEP) Ministerial scheduled to meet
o Russian Duma (parliament) to examine 3rd package of economic support measures
o Scotland’s Conservative Party Conference to be held in Aberdeen, Scotland
o Celebration of Holi – the Festival of Color - in India and among Hindus around the world
o Celebration of Hola Mahalla in India and among Sikhs around the world
> Economic Events –
o Bank of Japan meeting in Tokyo
o Central Bank of Russia meeting in Moscow
o US Existing Home Sales, Conference Board releases Leading Economic Index
o UK retail sales figures (Feb)
o Italy Trade Balance
o Eurozone Trade Balance, Labor Costs
o Canada Retail Sales
o Malaysia Exports, Imports, Trade Balance
o “Quadruple Witching Day” – stock index futures, stock index futures, stock options, and single-stock futures all expire
Saturday, March 19:
> Political Events/Social Events –
o Timor Leste holds presidential elections
o South Australia state elections
o Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida attends annual summit with India’s Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi, India
o The Feast of St. Joseph – the most important of saints’ feast days in the Roman Catholic Church is celebrated around the world
> Economic Events –
o China Foreign Direct Investment (Feb-YoY)
Sunday, March 20:
> Political Events –
o Wallis and Futuna Territorial Assembly election
o Spring (Vernal) Equinox
o Kurdish New Year
o UN-Sponsored “International Day of Happiness” (we sure need this one this year…)
> Economic Events –