Revised inflation figures for Spain and France reaffirmed market expectations of a 25bp interest rate cut at this week's ECB meeting. And, while industrial production for the euro block rose in August and sentiment indicators improved in Germany, the data are unlikely to prevent the central bank from delivering a cut.
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Investors traded cautiously ahead of the ECB's Governing Council meeting today, for which markets are expecting a 25 bp interest rate cut. Euro area sovereign bond yields fell for a second straight session and the main equity indices in the region were mixed.
Wednesday saw a mixed session in financial markets, with no major macroeconomic data releases to guide investors. US Treasury yields rose as investors weighed election uncertainty and a Republican sweep scenario, and priced in a slower pace of Fed rate cuts. In the eurozone, however, government bond yields fell on expectations of a more dovish ECB.
Financial markets had a mixed session as traders weighed incoming macro data and corporate earnings announcements to gauge the state of the economy. The JOLTs report showed that US job vacancies fell in September, while the Conference Board consumer confidence for October surprised to the upside (as did the German Gfk sentiment index for November).
Investor risk appetite remained fairly high as the US election results were digested. The Fed cut rates by 25bps yesterday as expected (as did the BoE) noting an easing labour market and robust economic growth. Investors regarded the rise in US jobless claims last week as due to hurricane disruptions. Treasury yields fell, reversing some of the previous day's moves.
US inflation data was in line with consensus expectations: headline inflation rose in October to 2.6% yoy from 2.4% in September, while core inflation, which excludes flood and energy, remained at 3.3%. Financial markets continue to price in 25 bp rate cut by the Fed at its upcoming December meeting (with an 85% probability).
Financial markets had a volatile session on Tuesday, driven by geopolitical headlines and with no major macro data releases. Eurozone government bond yields fell as several ECB officials speaking during the day supported a dovish ECB, notably Italy's Panetta, who said the ECB should focus on the sluggish economy and move rates to an expansionary stance.
Investors' risk appetite waned yesterday amid renewed tensions in the war in Ukraine. Government bond yields rose in the Eurozone, where data released yesterday showed that negotiated wage growth accelerated to 5.4% in Q3 from 4.6% in Q2, which could cause the ECB to reconsider its dovishness if this feeds through to inflation in the coming months.
Financial markets ended the week on a mixed note. In the US, November payrolls data showed that employment grew slightly more than expected (with October data revised upwards), but unemployment rose by 0.1% to 4.2% and wage growth accelerated slightly. Treasury yields fell and the probability of a -25bp cut by the Fed in December rose to 90%.
Investors kicked-off the week on a cautious note as they await the ECB's Governing Council meeting (on Thursday), widely expected to lower interest rates by 25bp, and US inflation figures for November (released on Wednesday), a key report for the Fed's decision next week.
US inflation for November came in line with expectations: headline inflation ticked up to 2.7% yoy (+0.3% mom), from 2.6% in October, and core inflation remained unchanged at 3.3% yoy (+0.3% mom). After the release, expectations for a Federal Reserve 25bp interest rate cut this month rose to almost 100%.
Financial markets ended the week on a cautious tone as investors fully digested the ECB's decision to lower interest rates and as they positioned themselves ahead of the Fed's FOMC meeting later this week given the latest prices data: higher-than-expected import and producer prices during November.
The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 25bp to 4.25-4.50% and signaled it will slow down the pace of cuts given its upward revision to the inflation forecast for the next two years. The Fed considered that the good health of the labor market and the little progress made on inflation in the recent months gives it room to act more cautiously from now on.
In yesterday's session, global investor caution prevailed as markets awaited the release of U.S. employment data. Meanwhile, some Fed members commented yesterday that it is quite likely that interest rates will remain at current levels for a long time and will only be cut when inflation decreases.
Financial markets were mixed in yesterday's session. In the US, sovereign bonds yields continued on a decreasing path, following dovish remarks from Fed Governor Waller, suggesting that rate cuts are possible by June if future inflation data remains favorable. In this context, Euro area sovereign bonds yields also decreased.
Markets traded without a clear direction as investors remained cautious awaiting further announcements from the Trump administration and central bank meetings next week. ECB officials' remarks continued to support further interest rate cuts, while Fed officials are in the "blackout" period ahead of the meeting and cannot comment about monetary policy.
In yesterday's session, global stocks rose for a ninth day, boosted by comments from US President D. Trump, in a virtual participation at Davos, hinting at a potentially softer approach to tariffs on China. He also urged OPEC to lower crude prices and said he will push for interest rate cuts.
Sentiment recovered during yesterday’s session, as investors digested the announcement that US tariffs on Mexico and Canada will be delayed for at least one month. Trade war uncertainty, however, concentrated in Asia, as China announced retaliatory tariffs on targeted products coming from the US, to take effect next Monday.
A relative sense of caution prevailed in the US stock market, ahead of corporate earnings and January’s jobs data, while stocks edged up in the eurozone.
Market sentiment was mixed on Wednesday. On the one hand, higher-than-expected US inflation data for January (headline: 0.5% mom, 3.0% yoy; core: 3.3% yoy) pushed back market expectations for the next Fed rate cut from early summer to the end of the year, and the probability of a second cut went down to virtually zero.