Investors traded cautiously as they positioned themselves ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting next week. US weekly unemployment benefit claims fell to a three-year low, casting some doubts over the Fed's willingess to lower rates. In this context, US treasury yields rose, equities were mostly flat, and the dollar edged higher against most peers.
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Investors kicked off the week on a cautious note, with attention set on upcoming monetary policy decisions. U.S. Treasury yields edged higher ahead of Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting, where a rate cut is widely expected (market-implied odds are near 100%) though uncertainty persists around the Fed’s forward path.
Investors traded cautiously ahead of today’s Fed meeting. Yesterday’s JOLTS report showed US job openings increased in October, indicating that the labor market isn't weakening abruptly and raising the risk that the Fed may strike a hawkish tone despite the widely expected rate cut later today. In response, Treasury yields edged higher and the dollar strengthened.
As expected, the Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate by 25bp to 3.50%–3.75%. Following the announcement, Treasury yields fell, U.S. equities advanced, and the dollar weakened, leaving EUR/USD trading near 1.17. After three consecutive rate cuts, the Fed signaled it will likely pause to assess how the economy evolves.
Financial markets continued to digest the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates. Sovereign bond yields edged lower in the euro area and were stable in the U.S., while the dollar extended its recent weakening trend, leaving EUR/USD trading near 1.175. Futures markets continued to price in two rate cuts for next year, despite a seemingly divided FOMC.
Markets ended the week lower as long-term yields surged and several Fed officials expressed their worries about inflation. Sovereign curves steepened: short-end rates eased but long and ultra-long maturities rose, after hawkish remarks from Cleveland Fed President Hammack calling for higher rates to curb inflation.
During yesterday's session, Government bond yields fell on both sides of the Atlantic ahead of several central bank meetings this week. The ECB meets on Thursday, with markets pricing an almost sure decision of keeping depo rate at 2%. Other banks meeting are the BoE (expected to cut to 3.75%) and the BoJ (expected to hike to 0.75%).
Financial markets had a mixed session on Tuesday. Sovereign bond yields fell on both sides of the Atlantic after a choppy session, driven by US employment figures distorted by the recent shutdown. The data showed job growth rebounded in November, while the unemployment rate rose in October following a methodological change due to the shutdown.
Financial markets had a mixed session on Wednesday. Eurozone sovereign yields edged higher, with curves steepening and peripheral spreads widening, even as the Ifo index surprised to the downside, signaling weaker business sentiment in Germany. Final CPI figures for November came in a tenth lower in the general year-on-year rate.
Markets rallied on Thursday as US inflation eased more than expected in November (2.6% vs. 3.0% YoY), boosting risk appetite. The moderation may partly reflect delayed data collection due to the recent government shutdown. Separately, initial jobless claims fell by 13,000 last week. Treasury yields dropped and investors' rate-cut expectations for the Fed remained broadly unchanged.
Friday’s session had a risk-on tone, with global bond yields rising after the Bank of Japan raised rates to 0.75% and signaled further tightening. European yields were additionally supported by higher ECB inflation forecasts for 2026 and plans to fund new aid to Ukraine through increased debt issuance.
Yesterday's session ended on a mixed tone with relatively small movements, as investors traded cautiously ahead of today's important data releases in the US, particularly Q3 GDP, which will be released today. Sovereign yields barely changed, with a small flattening of the US curve, while European stock indices receded and the US ones ticked higher, pushed by tech firms.
In yesterday's session, European government bond yields broadly fell after December inflation numbers for Germany and France came in lower than expected, lowering odds of future rate hikes from the ECB. Investors will be attentive to today's release of December CPI in the euro area, looking for more hints on the rate path in the short term.
On Thursday, German Bund yields rebounded by +5bp, partially reversing the broad decline seen earlier this week, following a positive surprise in the country’s industrial orders data in November (+5.6% mom). Other euro area sovereign yields were broadly stable, leading to a further narrowing of peripheral spreads.
Investors ended the week on a mixed note after US December jobs data showed the unemployment rate falling to 4.4%, prompting markets to push back expectations for the next Fed rate cut from March to June. As a result, 2-year Treasury yields edged higher and the US dollar strengthened. Equities nonetheless advanced to new highs.
The week began on a cautious note, with US Treasury yields remaining flat, equities posting modest gains, and the US dollar edging lower amid reports that Fed Chair Jerome Powell has been threatened with a criminal indictment related to the costs of a building renovation, which he described as a pretext by President Trump to exert influence over monetary policy.
Markets showed limited reaction to the release of US December inflation data, which confirmed headline and core inflation unchanged at 2.7% and 2.6% yoy, respectively. US Treasury yields ended the session broadly flat, equities edged lower, and the US dollar was little changed against most major peers. Futures markets continue to price in the first Fed rate cut in June.
Risk-off session as geopolitical risks remained in focus. Oil prices climbed for a fifth consecutive session, with Brent crude gaining more than 10% over the past five days to trade around $66/barrel. Gold reached fresh record highs above $4,600/ounce. On both sides of the Atlantic, sovereign yields edged lower, while equities modestly retreated.
Risk sentiment improved during yesterday’s session. US Treasury yields edged higher after weekly unemployment benefit claims declined, reinforcing expectations that the Fed will keep interest rates on hold in January. Equities advanced, supported by renewed optimism around artificial intelligence following strong results from Taiwanese semiconductors.
Financial markets ended Friday on a mixed note ahead of a long weekend in the US, where markets are closed today for Martin Luther King Day. US Treasury yields moved higher following mixed macro data: industrial production rose, while the NAHB Index signaled continued weakness in housing construction. European sovereign yields also edged up, with the French spread widening after PM Lecornu announced it will amend again the budget draft to secure parliamentary approval.