A slightly quieter week on the economic calendar than last week, but here are key developments for investors to monitor in the upcoming days

A slightly quieter week on the economic calendar than last week, but below are key developments for investors to monitor in the upcoming days:

Eurozone

Comments by European Central Bank officials will be eagerly observed after the ECB raised rates by 50 basis points last Thursday and all but vowed more of the same in March. 

ECB President Christine Lagarde noted high core inflation to explain why "we have more territory to cover and we are not done". 

In the next days, ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos and Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel will make appearances, as will Germany's central bank President Joachim Nagel. 

On Thursday, Germany will announce January inflation data, which has been postponed from last week, and experts anticipate it to increase again.

Germany will disclose factory orders data today as well, followed by an industrial production report on Tuesday.

The U.K.

The United Kingdom will report GDP figures on Friday, which is likely to indicate that the economy stagnated in the fourth quarter, narrowly averting a recession. 

The Bank of England warned last week that Britain is still on track for a recession this year, but it would be "far milder" than previously expected, owing mostly to lower energy costs and weaker market interest rate expectations. 

The Bank of England raised interest rates for the twelfth time in a row on Thursday, but indicated the tide was turning in its fight against inflation.

The energy crisis that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine has had a significant impact on the British economy. In the aftermath of Brexit, it has also seen a decrease in the number of its workforce, as well as poor company investment and sluggish productivity development.

The U.S.

Following Friday's massive U.S. employment report, which pushed investors to rethink how aggressive the Fed may need to be in its efforts to reign in inflation, markets will be carefully watching Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech on Tuesday. 

According to the Labor Department, the economy added 517,000 jobs in January, about three times what was predicted. 

Powell recognised progress in the fight against inflation last week, but surprisingly strong employment numbers may have given the central bank greater freedom to keep increasing rates. 

Investors are concerned that the Fed's rapid rate rises would send the economy into a slump.

The labour market will be updated with Thursday's initial jobless claims data, and many other Fed officials are scheduled to speak.

Earnings

The earnings season continues, with media and consumer companies taking the lead. 

Walt Disney, which is involved in a proxy struggle over board representation, and News Corp, which abandoned plans to merge with Fox Corp, will report on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, while the New York Times will also report on Wednesday. 

On Thursday, earnings from PepsiCo and Kellogg will provide insight into how customers are dealing with inflation. This week, more than 90 S&P 500 businesses are set to report earnings.