Newsquawk Week Ahead Highlights: 23rd-27th February 2026

Why It Matters

Nvidia’s results serve as a bellwether for AI‑driven growth, while the inflation releases and central‑bank decisions will shape monetary policy trajectories and market risk sentiment across major economies.

Key Takeaways

• Nvidia earnings expected to beat revenue forecasts.
• PBoC likely holds 1‑year and 5‑year LPRs.
• Australian CPI could prompt further RBA rate hikes.
• Tokyo CPI slowdown suggests BoJ may stay cautious.
• Bank of Korea expected to keep base rate at 2.5%

Pulse Analysis

Nvidia's February 25 earnings report is a focal point for global equity markets, as the chipmaker continues to dominate the artificial-intelligence hardware landscape. Analysts anticipate revenue around $65.7 billion, driven by data-centre sales that surged to nearly $60 billion in Q4, while gross margins are expected to edge above 74 percent. The company's roadmap, including the upcoming GTC conference, promises new inference architectures and deeper integration with OpenAI, factors that could extend the current AI spending boom through 2027. Consequently, many investors view NVDA as a proxy for broader tech-driven growth.

On the macro side, the week features several inflation gauges that will shape central-bank policy. Australia's January CPI is set to reveal whether the Reserve Bank of Australia will need to tighten further after its first rate rise in two years; a reading above the 3 percent target could trigger another hike. In China, the People's Bank is expected to leave the one-year and five-year loan-prime rates unchanged at 3.00 % and 3.50 %, reflecting tight net-interest margins and a preference for targeted liquidity tools. Meanwhile, Tokyo's February CPI showed a slowdown to 1.5 % year-over-year, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan will maintain its ultra-accommodative stance until wage data confirm durable inflation.

The convergence of these data points creates a nuanced risk landscape for traders. A strong Nvidia beat could lift risk-on sentiment, offsetting any bearish pressure from softer inflation numbers in Japan or a stagnant policy stance in Korea, where the base rate is likely to stay at 2.5 %. Conversely, an unexpected jump in Australian CPI or a surprise LPR cut in China could reignite concerns over global monetary tightening, prompting volatility across equity, currency, and bond markets. Market participants should therefore monitor earnings, CPI releases, and central-bank commentary closely to adjust positioning ahead of the week.