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At the incredible end to the first quarter for financial markets, rattled by bank turmoil, some stability will be much hoped for in coming days.

But don’t bet on it. Regional U.S. banking stocks remain near their lowest levels in two years, Europe is weighing up the fallout from the forced UBS-Credit Suisse tie-up. And data will show how much the market ructions are making recession more likely.

Here’s a look at the week ahead in markets:

A COCO-NUTS QUARTER

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People are seen on Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 19.Brendan McDermid/Reuters

What a quarter. January saw the biggest rush into equities for the first month of the year on record as investors loaded up on cheap stocks. With “peak rates” essentially priced in, bond yields at multiyear highs suddenly looked juicy. The threat of inflation looked less severe and growth more robust. Crisis averted!

Fast-forward a few weeks and a slew of crypto-companies have folded, U.S. regional banks’ stocks have tanked in the wake of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse and 167-year-old Credit Suisse has imploded – and the writedown of some of its contingent convertible bonds (CoCos) has whipped market volatility into a 2008-style frenzy.

“Peak rates” is coming faster than many expected, not because inflation has been vanquished, but because central banks are wary of fanning the flames of a credit crunch, right as the banking sector wobbles.

DON’T BANK ON IT

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A security guard stands outside of the entrance of the Silicon Valley Bank headquarters in Santa Clara, California on March 13.BRITTANY HOSEA-SMALL

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, a 90-per-cent share price drop over two weeks in beleaguered First Republic Bank and a shotgun marriage between Credit Suisse and UBS to avert a wider crisis: banks have gone on a wild ride. The turmoil may not be over yet.

SNB chief Thomas Jordan reckons the next two weeks will be vital to securing UBS’s Credit Suisse takeover. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said banking stress could trigger a credit crunch with “significant” implications for a slowing U.S. economy.

And even as central banks and governments step in to stem signs of panic, there’s a new challenge to grapple with – a social-media-driven bank run that can be hard to control once rumour and fear take hold.

As Citigroup chief executive Jane Fraser puts it, social media is a “complete game-changer” in bank runs.

DID YOU SAY AT1?

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The logo of Credit Suisse bank is seen outside its office building in Hong Kong, China March 20.TYRONE SIU/Reuters

Credit Suisse’s forced takeover by UBS involved US$17-billion of Additional Tier 1 debt, shock absorbers if a bank’s capital levels fall below a threshold, being wiped out.

Prices of banks’ AT1s bonds tumbled following the news. Hong Kong, Singapore, the European Union and Britain stepped into to calm the unease.

Potential legal action is also possible after Swiss authorities ruled that holders of Credit Suisse AT1 bonds would get nothing in the deal. Shareholders, who usually rank below debt investors when a company becomes insolvent, will receive US$3.23-billion.

Lawyers are assessing whether there is a case against the Swiss authorities. How this plays out in coming days will be watched closely. The saga has also rocked the US$275-billion AT1 bond market, as investors scrutinize debt prospectuses for clauses that could cast doubt over recovery prospects.

DATA DIVE

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Shoppers pick up televisions at a Wal-Mart on Nov. 25, 2022 in Dunwoody, Georgia.Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

U.S. data that will give insight into the health of the consumer and the state of inflation is timely for investors trying to weigh up whether the economy can stave off a downturn.

The banking crisis has prompted fears that lending will slow, grinding the gears of the economy.

March’s reading of consumer confidence is due on Tuesday. The index unexpectedly fell in February.

On Friday, the February personal consumption expenditure index will offer another look at inflation. It accelerated in January, feeding fears about a more hawkish Federal Reserve.

The Fed raised rates by another quarter point on Wednesday, but recast its outlook from a hawkish preoccupation with inflation to a more cautious stance, given market turmoil that has tightened financial conditions.

INFLATION WATCH

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This file photo taken on February 24, 2023 shows Kazuo Ueda, then-candidate for the new governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ), attending a Q&A session at the House of Representatives in parliament in TokyoPHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images

Incoming Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda will be watching the latest Tokyo inflation data closely.

After all, Mr. Ueda has the weight of his predecessor’s decade of massive stimulus on his shoulders when he takes over in April.

Expectations are high that he will mastermind a delicate unwinding of yield curve controls and negative interest rates during his tenure, but a key question is when.

Mr. Ueda is in no rush, but pressure is building.

The release of Tokyo CPI for March on March 31 is likely to show inflation has topped the BOJ’s 2-per-cent target for a 10th straight month. And wage inflation shows signs of catching up.

But policy-makers say the economic recovery remains fragile. And U.S. and European banks turmoil show how quickly a crisis can surface, giving Mr. Ueda even more reason for caution.

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