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Financial markets started the week with a risk-off session, as traders digested another round of inconclusive peace talks between Russia and Ukraine as well as new hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve.

Investors traded with cautious optimism at the last session of the week, still hopeful a resolution in the Ukraine-Russia conflict could be possible. In addition, a meeting by US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over the crisis in Ukraine ended without big surprises.

In yesterday's session investors traded with cautious optimism, weighting solid economic data with negative comments by Russian authorities about the lack of progress in negotiations with Ukraine. Today, US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will hold a meeting to discuss the ongoing conflict.

In yesterday's session, investors' sentiment improved amid optimistic comments from Russian officials, which increased the odds of a diplomatic solution, and following the description of the outlook from Jerome Powell, who said the US economy is very strong and with an extremely tight labor market.

In yesterday’s session investors' sentiment improved modestly ahead of today's Federal Reserve meeting, where we expect interest rates to be hiked by 0.25pp. Oil prices declined after lockdowns in China were announced, since that might dampen oil demand, and the barrel of Brent fluctuated below $100.

In the first session of the week, investors remained concerned about the developments in Ukraine and mounting inflationary pressures in advanced economies. Their expectation for a tighter monetary policy from the ECB and the Federal Reserve pushed interest rates up.

In the last session of the week, investors traded cautiously amid ongoing talks between Russian and Ukrainian authorities, although during the weekend Russia intensified aerial attacks on the western part of Ukraine. This week talks are expected to continue between both countries and officials from China and the US will also hold a meeting.

Macroeconomic events and data releases shadowed latest developments of the Ukrainian war, as the ECB meeting and US CPI inflation centered stage in financial markets. On the latter, headline inflation rose as expected in February from 7.5% to 7.9% and core inflation rose from 6.0% to 6.4%.

In yesterday’s session, investor sentiment improved and preference for riskier assets rose ahead of today’s meeting in Turkey between Ukraine and Russia foreign ministers. In addition, a Ukraine top foreign policy aide insisted that Ukraine is ready for a diplomatic solution. Brent and European gas prices moderated.

In yesterday's volatile session, investors remained concerned about the implications the Russian-Ukrainian conflict can have on economic activity and inflation. Nevertheless, rumors that the EU is discussing a plan to increase the joint issuance of bonds benefited risk perception in Europe.

Financial markets started the week with a sell-off session in stock markets as energy prices rose sharply following threats from the US to restrict oil imports from Russia and Russia threats to cut gas flows to Europe. In addition, the euro area investor sentiment index Sentix declined to -7.0 in March, the lowest level since November 2020.

In the last session of the week, investors traded with a risk-off mood and increased their demand for safe-haven assets.