Key Economic Events and Corporate Reports on Sunday, March 1, 2026: PMI Data from China and Russia, Global Market Expectations, and Preparation for the Opening of S&P 500, Euro Stoxx 50, Nikkei 225, and MOEX Analysis for Investors
Sunday, March 1, is a rare day for the market: most exchanges (the U.S., Europe, and Russia) are closed, liquidity is low, and reactions to news often manifest on Monday. Nevertheless, the beginning of the month is traditionally accompanied by the publication of Purchasing Managers' Indices (PMI) and various regulatory deadlines that shape expectations concerning the global economy, commodities, and currencies. For investors in the CIS, the key task of the day is to gather a "risk map" before the week's opening: assess signals from China and Russia, review the energy market agenda, and prepare in advance for a plethora of data and corporate reports on Monday.
Global Agenda for the Beginning of the Month: Why March 1 Influences Risk Appetite
- PMI as an Early Indicator of the Cycle. Business activity indices in manufacturing and services often set the tone for expectations regarding inflation, interest rates, and corporate profits, particularly in the near horizon of 1-3 months.
- Portfolio Rotation at the Start of the Month. At the intersection of months, rebalancing heights among funds and systemic strategies intensify; even with a "quiet" calendar, this increases the likelihood of gaps at the opening.
- Energy and Regulatory Agenda. Deadlines related to gas/sanctions/diversification of supply in Europe often reflect in risk premiums for oil, gas, and sector equities.
Economic Events of the Day: Asia – The First Signal of the Month
The Asian block remains the primary source of macro impulses on Sunday thanks to early releases and high market sensitivity to the state of Chinese demand.
China: Official PMI (NBS) for February
- NBS Manufacturing PMI (February). A key barometer of industrial demand, supply chains, and export dynamics.
- NBS Non-Manufacturing PMI (February). A snapshot of services and construction – vital for assessing domestic demand and investment activity.
- Combined Conclusions for the Markets. Strong PMIs typically support industrial metals, various EM currencies, and Asian indices; weak ones enhance demand for defensive assets and may pressure cyclical sectors in the S&P 500 and Euro Stoxx 50.
Australia: Final S&P Global Manufacturing PMI
- S&P Global Australia Manufacturing PMI Final (February). A publication at the end of the day UTC may set the tone for the "Asian open" of the new week, influencing AUD, commodity assets, and overall risk appetite in the region.
Europe and Russia: PMI and Energy Highlights
For European and Russian investors, signals regarding business activity and any news that can alter expectations concerning commodities, logistics, and sanction risks are critical.
Russia: S&P Global Manufacturing PMI
- S&P Global Russia Manufacturing PMI. An indicator of the state of industry, orders, and pricing pressures. In combination with the dynamics of the ruble and interest rates, it helps assess the profitability of exporters and domestic demand.
European Energy Landscape: Deadlines and Expectations
- Deadline for Preparing National Plans for Diversification of Gas Supplies. Such regulatory events typically sharpen the focus on gas import structures, spot prices, and contracts, as well as risks to energy-intensive sectors in Europe.
- How This Translates into Markets. Rising uncertainty supports volatility in gas and electricity, while inflation expectations influence yield curves and sector dynamics in the Euro Stoxx 50.
The U.S.: Markets are Closed, but Expectations are Forming in Advance
American markets are closed on Sunday; however, it is often at the end of the week and the start of the month that expectations for key Monday publications begin to form. For CIS investors, a practical approach is to evaluate what scenarios regarding interest rates and inflation may be "highlighted" by the upcoming block of indicators, and to predefine risk levels for positions in the S&P 500 and the technology sector.
Corporate Reports: Sunday as a "Quiet" Day, but Not Without Activity
Sundays are rarely busy for corporate publications: companies typically prefer weekdays to ensure coverage by analysts and investors. Nevertheless, select issuers may publish results before market openings or release operational updates.
The U.S.: Point Reports and Operational Updates
- RadNet (RDNT). Report/update on results – potentially significant for investors monitoring medical services and diagnostics, where sensitivity to rates and capital costs remains high.
The Middle East: Reports from Key Regional Issuers
- Selected Public Companies from Saudi Arabia may publish results on this day (according to the local schedule). For global portfolios, this matters through channels of oil, petrochemicals, and the financial sector in the region.
Russia: Corporate Calendar and Updates
- Potential Trading/Operational Updates from Selected Issuers (including infrastructure companies) may emerge at the month's beginning. For IMOEX investors, it is crucial to track statements regarding dividends, capital expenditures, and debt burden – these factors usually weigh more than the "calendar" publication itself.
What to Watch for Investors in Advance: Key Events for the Upcoming Workday (Monday, March 2)
The main market reaction to Sunday’s data and news typically manifests on Monday. Thus, it is prudent to prepare a list of "opening triggers" by region.
Macro (Expectations for March 2): U.S. and Global PMIs
- Final/Official PMI indices for key economies have the potential to swiftly change expectations concerning interest rates and generate movements in yields.
- ISM in the U.S. (if the publication aligns with the upcoming opening) traditionally influences the dollar, the UST curve, and sector dynamics in the S&P 500 (industrial companies, cyclicals, finance).
Corporate Reports (Expectations for March 2): U.S., Europe, Asia
Mondays are generally much richer in reports. Among the companies frequently monitored by investors due to capitalization and their impact on indices/sectors are:
- U.S. (selectively): Okta (OKTA), MongoDB (MDB), Heico (HEI), AES (AES), Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH), ADT (ADT), Sealed Air (SEE), California Resources (CRC), and several technology/energy issuers.
- Europe (selectively): infrastructure and energy companies, including issuers like Cellnex (CLNX) and Galp (GALP) depending on the exact publication schedule.
- Asian Markets: reports from major local issuers and banks may be significant—especially relevant for investors evaluating Nikkei 225 and regional supply chains.
Investor practice: preemptively mark "high-risk windows" (before opening/after closing), determine hedges for indices (S&P 500, Euro Stoxx 50), and check portfolio correlations with oil/gas.
Conclusion: Key Considerations for CIS Investors Before the Week’s Opening
The main takeaway from Sunday, March 1, 2026, is preparation for Monday. The focus should be on: (1) official PMIs from China as a signal of global demand and the commodity cycle; (2) Russian PMI as an early indicator of domestic business activity and pricing pressures; (3) the energy and regulatory agenda in Europe, which could influence risk premiums in commodity assets; (4) a list of key corporate reports for the upcoming workday that could set the tone for indices like S&P 500, Euro Stoxx 50, Nikkei 225, and IMOEX.
Before the week opens, an investor should: update scenarios regarding interest rates and inflation, set risk levels for positions, check exposure to commodities and currencies, and predefine which reports and macro publications are critical for their portfolio structure.
