Looking Ahead: February 25 through March 1, 2013

Equities were mixed last week as investors responded to currency moves, tepid economic data and FOMC minutes. The Eurozone will remain in recession according to lowered forecasts from the EU. Europe’s flash PMIs showed the currency union continues to contract though Germany continues to show slight growth. Investors will be paying close attention to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s Congressional testimony on Tuesday and Wednesday, especially after the strong reaction to the minutes of the FOMC’s last meeting. Key Japanese data for January will be published at week’s end. And hopefully, we will know who Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe selects to be his new governor of the Bank of Japan.