What to Watch: Fed Speak, Biden/Xi Call, Home Sales, Quad Witching

Federal Reserve exits blackout, scheduled speakers on tap, but expect pop-up appearances, headlines, essays (StL Fed Bullard recently, see 0614ET bullet) and/or rebuttals:

• Fed Gov Waller interview on CNBC at 0830ET
• MN Fed Kashkari on capital, energy sectors at 1200ET
• Richmond Fed Barkin economic outlook at 1320ET
• Fed Gov Bowman, Fed listens event: Helping Youth Thrive at 1400ET
• President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi call expected at 0900ET, according to Punchbowl News, expected topics: Ukraine crisis and Sino-U.S. relations. Will not be live, expect headlines to filter out from White House, transcript/readout later in the day.
• Morning data summary, coming up at 1000ET (prior, est):
  
  • Existing Home Sales (6.5M, 6.10M)
  • Existing Home Sales MoM (6.7%, -6.2%)
  • Leading Index (-0.3%, 0.3%)
• Ongoing Russia/Ukraine headline risk a constant source of market volatility.
• March Quadruple Witching: equity index/single list stock and options expire, likely to present heavy volume and real volatility later in session.
• First day of Spring this Sunday, March 20 -- while Covid cases continue to rise.