The Week Ahead Is Filled With Fedspeak

1. Geopolitical Events. On Monday Federal Reserve Chicago President Charles Evans speaks before markets open. On Tuesday Federal Reserve Kansas City President Esther George speaks at12:00 p.m. EDT, and Cleveland President Loretta Mester speaks at 6:00 p.m. EDT. Also on Tuesday also President Trump meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. On Thursday Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen speaks at 8:00 a.m. EDT., and Federal Reserve Dallas President Robert Kaplan participates in a Q&A on the economic outlook and monetary policy. Also on Thursday Federal Reserve Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari speaks at 12:00 p.m. EDT. On Friday Federal Reserve St. Louis President James Bullard speaks at 8:50 a.m. EDT, San Francisco President John Williams at 8:30 a.m. EDT and Chicago President Charles Evans at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

2. Economic Releases. Releases of note this week include the weekly chain store sales, oil/gas numbers, mortgage applications, jobless claims and existing home sale and durable goods.

3. Earnings Releases. Notable releases include MOV JMBA NKE FDX GIS CTAS PVH ACN MU FINL.

Monday, March 20:

Markets are closed in Japan for the celebration of the first day of spring.

The Senate Judiciary Committee begins hearings on Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Analyst Meetings of note ENTG WFC.

Tuesday, March 21:

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi pays a visit to Washington D.C. to meet with President Trump.

Analyst Meetings of note MBT MAR ALLY TEN.

Wednesday, March 22:

February Existing Home Sales are due out at 10:00 a.m. EDT and are expected to fall to 5.54 million from 5.68 million.

Analyst Meetings of note CSTM.

Thursday, March 23:

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen speaks to the Federal Reserve System Community Development Research Conference.

Analyst Meetings of note MTDR MMLP.

Friday, March 24:

February Durable Orders are due out at 8:30 a.m. EDT and are expected to fall to 1.30% from 2.00%.

Analyst Meetings of note CZZ.

The latest short interest data is due out after the close for NYSE and NASDAQ stocks.