Financial Markets Daily Report

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Investors continued to err on the side of caution on Thursday, still digesting weak economic data pointing to a global economic slowdown and a new round of hawkish signals from the ECB.

Financial markets closed with mixed results during a volatile session on Wednesday, as investors weighted out data in the US showing a weak year-end for retail sales (-1.1% m/m in December) and industrial production (-0.7%) with signs of further easing in inflationary pressures (headline PPI fell by 0.5% m/m in December).

Risk appetite continued to set the tone on Tuesday, as investors shrug off data showing GDP stalled in China in Q4, mixed results from some US banks during the Q4 earnings season and hawkish messages from some ECB officials.

Financial markets started the week trading with no clear direction, swinging between modest gains and losses across equity markets in Europe and Asia, during a session characterized by low volumes due to a national holiday in the US.

Risk appetite continued to set the tone in the last session of the week, as investors reassessed prospects for less aggressive monetary policy tightening, on the back of reduced inflationary pressures, and took on board mixed results at the start of the Q4 earnings season among large US banks.

In yesterday’s session, the US CPI data for December centered the stage and confirmed the downward trend kicked off last summer. In particular, the headline index fell by 0.1% m/m and the core measure rose by 0.3%. On year-on-year terms, inflation eased to 6.5% (headline) and 5.7% (core), both in line with consensus expectations.

In yesterday's session, investors continued to trade with a risk-on mood, taking position ahead of potential surprises in the crucial CPI inflation report in the US due to be released today. The headline index is expected to decline m/m, increasing the odds for a 25bp hike in the next Federal Reserve meeting, instead of a 50bp hike.

In yesterday’s session, higher-than-expected inflation data for December in Japan (headline 4.0%; core 2.7%) and hawkish comments from some central bank officials were the main drivers in financial markets. In particular, ECB Isabel Schnabel reiterated that interest rates need to be risen significantly to tackle down inflation.

In the first session of the week, investors digested the US employment report and the HICP inflation data released last Friday together with comments from central bank officials. In particular, San Francisco's Fed President Mary Daly said that a 25bp or 50bp hike in the next meeting are both on the table and pointed to a terminal rate over 5%.

In the last session of the week, investors continued to trade with a risk-on mode, taking on board the fall in HICP inflation in the eurozone (9.2% in December after 10.1%) and the US employment report for December. On balance, the data suggested central banks will continue hiking policy interest rates but likely at a reduced pace.

Investors started the year trading with a risk-on mode, taking on board data showing receding inflationary pressures in Europe, a slowdown in economic growth in the US and a further decline in energy prices across the globe. As a result, investors revised down modestly their expectations for future policy interest rate hikes. 

Risk aversion returned to the fore during a session characterized by low volumes in the run-up to the holiday season. Investors continued to reassess their expectations about monetary policy tightening amid hawkish commentary from some ECB officials and robust economic data in the US (e.g., new jobless claims and the upward revision in Q3 GDP).