-Eurozone inflation slightly rebounds
In the Eurozone last week, markets, in general, followed inflation, unemployment and Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data. Annual inflation recovered slightly, while the unemployment rate was also positive, however, PMI data was below expectations.
Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 1.4 percent in March 2018, up from 1.1 percent in February, according to a flash estimate from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
The inflation rate continued to fall below the expectations of the European Central Bank (ECB), which is responsible for managing monetary policy in the Eurozone.
The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in February this year, down from 8.6 percent in January and from 9.5 percent in February 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since December 2008.
The EU unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in February 2018, down from 7.2 percent in January 2018 and from 8.0 percent in February 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU since September 2008.
The final IHS Markit Eurozone PMI Composite Output Index posted 55.2 in March, down from 57.1 in February and below the earlier flash estimate of 55.3.
March saw Eurozone economic activity expand at the weakest pace since the start of 2017, as rates of increase moderated in both the manufacturing and service sectors.
All in all, last week was a positive week in terms of data with the exception of PMI.
-The week ahead
This week, investors will follow the Sentix Investor Confidence Index, Euro area industrial production, European Central Bank's monetary policy meeting accounts foreign trade data.
Additionally, markets will closely watch speeches of the European Central Bank's officials in Frankfurt and Brussels.