1. Stock caution urged as margin debt levels hit new highs — via MarketWatch, Margin debt, which tends to spike alongside stock rallies and pullbacks, has been rattling investors. While not indicative of an imminent crash, they’re telling investors to exercise caution, say market strategists.

2. BOJ kept key interest at record low — the Bank of Japan (BOJ) has left its key interest rate at 0.1% and maintained its program of expanding the monetary base by ¥60-70T a year. The BOJ upgraded its assessment of industrial output and investment but cut its analysis for exports.
3. Bull Market CheckList — following the bull market’s five-year anniversary, plenty of chatter has ensued about how much longer the rally will last. The million dollar question is now “Just how much higher can it go?”. Below is a “checklist” courtesy of Strategas in order to figure when the rally may be poised to peak.

4. Senate proposal to wind Fannie Mae (OTCQB:FNMA)& Freddie Mac (OTCQB:FMCC)— a Fannie Mae-Freddie Mac overhaul deal was tentatively reached between the Senate Banking Committee’s top-Democrat and Republican, with the White House also signaling support. Both shares of the government controlled mortgage finance giant plunged.
5. China (FXI) released more data indicating that its economy is slowing — China industrial production growth slowed to 8.6% on year in January and February from 9.7% previously. This figure missed consensus of 9.5%. Retail sales softened to +11.8% from +13.6%, while urban fixed-asset investment also weakened.
6. U.S. safety watchdog says 303 deaths linked to recalled GM cars — Reuters, U.S. safety regulators have recorded 303 deaths when airbags failed to deploy in 1.6 million compact cars recalled last month by General Motors Co. (GM). The number is far greater than the 13 people whose deaths the company has acknowledged were linked to the switches.

The week ahead — Economic data from Econoday.com: