UOB reports that the central bank of Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) expects 2026 headline inflation to average 1.5%-2.5%, with core inflation at 1.8%-2.3%.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) fell to near the 100.00 region on Tuesday, holding a weak tone as the US Dollar (USD) lost its safe-haven demand amid growing hopes of a de-escalation of the war in the Middle East.

Standard Chartered’s Senior Economist Tommy Wu revises Taiwan’s 2026 macro outlook as higher Oil and LNG prices from Middle East tensions lift import costs. The bank now sees CPI inflation at 2.1% instead of 1.5%, and trims GDP growth to 7.6% from 8.0%.

Commerzbank’s Dr. Henry Hao notes that China’s March PMIs show manufacturing back in expansion, supported by restocking, government spending and resilient exports, while non-manufacturing also edges above 50.

According to Societe Generale’s Dev Ashish, higher Oil prices improve Colombia’s outlook, with growth expected to move back toward potential in 2026–27. Inflation expectations are stabilizing, though Oil passthrough could generate temporary upside.

National Bank of Canada (NBC) economists Matthieu Arseneau and Alexandra Ducharme say Canada’s real GDP started 2026 on a firmer footing, with January growth beating expectations and preliminary data pointing to a solid Q1 gain.

Jeffrey Schmid, President of the Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Kansas City, said that inflation is the more salient risk for the Fed. Adding that there is a real risk inflation will get stuck closer to 3% in remarks prepared for delivery to the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

ING economists Peter Virovacz and Zoltán Homolya note that Hungary’s January wage data are heavily distorted by a one-off bonus to military and law enforcement staff, leaving underlying wage growth much lower than the headline figure.

Commerzbank’s Senior Economist Dr. Vincent Stamer notes Euro area inflation rose to 2.5% in March, driven entirely by higher energy prices linked to the Iran War, while core inflation slipped to 2.3%.

US consumer sentiment picked up marginal pace in March, as the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index ticked a tad higher to 91.8 from February’s 91.0 (revised from 91.2).

TD Securities analysts note that USD/CAD has been resilient despite stronger Canadian GDP data, as month-end and quarter-end Dollar demand offsets other forces. The pair has broken above its mid-January highs and they now highlights 1.40 as the next key level.

Iran's state media reported on Tuesday that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that they will target United States (US) companies, including Google, Apple, Intel, Boeing, IBM and Tesla, in the region as of April 1 in retaliation for attacks on Iran.

Societe Generale’s Dev Ashish expects Brazil’s economy to expand below trend in 2026 as tighter policy and a weaker external backdrop weigh on activity. Inflation is seen pressured by higher Oil prices, though soft demand offers some cushion.

The consumer sentiment in the United States (US) improved slightly in March, with the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index edging higher to 91.8 from 91 in February (revised from 91.2).

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) economists note Canada's GDP grew 0.1% in January, slower than December but above expectations, with goods-producing industries outperforming and services flat.

The number of job openings declined to 6.882 million in February from 7.24 million in January, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in its Job Openings and Labor Turnover (JOLTS) report on Tuesday. This reading came in below the market expectation of 6.92 million.

United States JOLTS Job Openings below forecasts (6.92M) in February: Actual (6.882M)

United States Chicago PMI registered at 52.8, below expectations (55) in March

Societe Generale’s Dev Ashish projects Mexico’s 2026 growth to remain below potential, constrained by weak manufacturing, investment and USMCA‑related uncertainty. Higher Oil prices are expected to pass through, lifting inflation risks and expectations.

Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch notes Gold has dropped over 13% this month, its steepest fall since 2008, as surging Oil prices forced markets to price out Fed rate cuts. Recently, both Gold and Oil have risen together.

Tensions between the United States (US) and Iran remain in focus after a series of comments from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported by Reuters, who said the coming days could be decisive in the conflict.

ING’s Bert Colijn notes that Eurozone inflation has jumped from 1.9% to 2.5%, driven entirely by higher energy prices, while core and food inflation continue to ease.

United States S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices (YoY) came in at 1.2%, below expectations (1.3%) in January

United States Housing Price Index (MoM) in line with expectations (0.1%) in January

United States Redbook Index (YoY) up to 6.9% in March 27 from previous 6.7%

BNP Paribas analyzes US plans to ease bank liquidity rules to help restore the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) lender-of-last-resort function and potentially enable further balance sheet reduction.

Canada Gross Domestic Product (MoM) above forecasts (0%) in January: Actual (0.1%)

South Africa Trade Balance (in Rands) rose from previous 9.31B to 36.92B in February

In a series of posts on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump criticized several US allies, including the United Kingdom (UK) and France, over their position following the recent US operation targeting Iran.

Commerzbank’s Volkmar Baur says Japan’s inflation outlook remains contained, with core prices still within the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) 2% target range and second‑round effects not yet visible.