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Financial markets closed with mixed results during a highly volatile session on Thursday, as investors digested policy announcements by the ECB and upside surprises in economic data in the US (GDP rose by 2.6% SAAR in Q3).

Investors continued to trade with a risk-on mood, fueled by expectations that the Fed and the ECB could decide to reduce the pace of monetary tightening from December, which for the US were reinforced by the release of weak housing data. Investors were also taking position ahead of a crucial monetary policy decision by the ECB today.

Risk appetite extended gains across markets on Tuesday, as investors took on board positive signals from corporate earnings, a further softening in US sentiment and housing indicators and a decline in gas prices across the globe.

Financial markets started the week with a risk-on session, fueled by the resolution of the political crisis in the UK and hopes that the softening in sentiment data could allow central banks to slow the pace of monetary tightening.

Investors closed the week trading cautiously under a volatile setting, still digesting political developments in the UK and signs of lingering inflationary pressures. In Europe, natural gas prices fell notably, following reports that Germany is likely to support a price cap to be included in the next EU package, to be agreed in coming weeks.

In yesterday’s session, politics centered the stage in financial markets, following the resignation of UK Prime Minister Liz Truss due to the loss of confidence in her government. The Conservative Party is expected to present a new leader before the end of October and ahead of the release of the widely expected fiscal plan.

In yesterday's session, investors traded with a cautious mood, despite the good news in the earnings season, as they continued to assess a complicated macroeconomic scenario.

In yesterday's session, investors continued to trade with an upbeat tone amid better-than-expected corporate profits releases and macroeconomic data. In particular, the US industrial production in September rose by 0.4% m/m and the Zew survey expectations index for Germany and the euro area edged up modestly in October.

In the first session of the week, investors' sentiment improved as sovereign interest rates declined in both sides of the Atlantic and amid better-than-expected corporate earnings releases in the US. Equity indices rose substantially across the board.

On Friday, the survey of the University of Michigan showed an increase in inflation expectations for the US, which led to a rise in sovereign yields and sharp losses on US stock indices. Meanwhile, in Europe, equities managed to register moderate advances. The US dollar strengthened against most currencies and the euro fluctuated below $0.98.

Another day of rollercoaster swings across financial markets, following the negative surprise in the inflation report in the US and the upside revisions in investors’ expectations of the pace of monetary policy tightening.

Volatility and risk aversion continued to set the tone across markets on Wednesday, with investors taking position ahead of a crucial inflation report in the US later today and the kickoff of the Q3 corporate earnings season on Friday.