One of the factors capping market sentiment is that the U.S. Federal Reserve is not expected to ease its monetary stance soon. In fact, the U.S. inflation rate has been climbing since October. The next set of major U.S. Inflation Data will be released on Wednesday (March 12).

The U.S. stock market has been recently dragged by downbeat economic data and concerns on new tariffs proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Investors are also watching closely how the massive cutting of federal-government jobs by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will affect the jobs market.

Minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's January policy meeting showed that central-bank officials were concerned about the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs on inflation. Meanwhile, the next set of important inflation data will come on Friday (February 28). The Fed will decide on interest rates on Wednesday, March 19.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda recently said the central bank is deeply aware that people's lives are negatively affected by a rise of more than 2% in prices of fresh foods and other commonly purchased products. Japan's official inflation report will be released on Friday (February 21).

With the U.S. technology sector at a potential turning point, these stocks stand out among others in the sector. Most of the stocks mentioned below are already in a strong upward price trend.

Investors will closely Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s bi-annual 2-day testimony on the economic situation to U.S. Congress (Tuesday-Wednesday) to seek clues on the central bank’s next rate move.

Using Trading Central's Market Buzz for understanding premarket moves, Gates Industrial Corporation (GTES) has been identified as an interesting choice.

Though U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that interest rates drop immediately, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged after cutting rates three consecutive times. Incoming economic data about the labor market’s strength will play an important role in the Fed’s next decision on maintaining or cutting interest rates.

Using Trading Central's Market Buzz for understanding premarket moves, IBM has been identified as an interesting choice.