The Dow Jones, S&P500 and Nasdaq start the session down by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively, ahead of a week rich in US macroeconomic data, starting with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

'The CPI is expected to rise by 0.4% at a monthly rate. If this is the case, it would confirm a firming of inflation in the first quarter", warns Oddo BHF, for whom this statistic, to be published on Tuesday before the opening, "has the potential to be a big market mover".

The research firm points out that underlying inflation is tending to pick up, and its level, close to 4% per annum, "is not a comfortable one for the Fed", which "has confirmed that its central scenario is to cut rates in 2024, but not right away".

Other US statistics due in the coming days include producer and import prices, retail sales and industrial production for February.

As a reminder, US data will be published an hour ahead of their usual schedule for the next three weeks, due to the USA's switch to daylight saving time last weekend.

On the stock front, the quarterly results of IT group Oracle are due to be published this Monday after the close, and the week will also see those of retailer Dollar Tree and software publisher Adobe.

Merck today announced the completion of its acquisition of Harpoon Therapeutics. The company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck, and Harpoon's common shares will no longer be publicly traded or listed on Nasdaq.

mdf commerce, a specialist in digital commerce technologies, announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds managed by KKR. Following completion of the transaction, mdf commerce will become a private company, says KKR.

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