Markets had a choppy session on the day of the FOMC's meeting. US Treasury yields initially fell, stocks gained and the dollar fell on the announcement of the widely expected 25bp rate cut. But all later reversed course as investors digested a disperse dot plot which signaled a large group of the FOMC still remains hawkish. Treasury yields rose and stocks ended mostly flat.
Search results
On Friday’s session investors traded cautiously as they continued to digest a more-hawkish-than-expected read on recent monetary policy path indications. Sovereign bond yields slightly increased on both sides of the Atlantic and equities were mostly flat, while the dollar slightly strengthened. On the commodities side, metals prices rebounded, while oil prices dropped as worries of declining demand strengthened.
Investors kicked-off the week on a cautious tone. US Treasury yields continued to tick slightly higher, following the tendency of the last sessions. Global equities were mixed, rising in the US and declining across the euro area. A study published by the ECB found eurozone consumers have been shifting away from US goods and reducing overall discretionary spending.
Investors recovered some risk appetite in the last session of the week. Advanced-economy stocks rebounded after a few mixed sessions, while the USD weakened on expectations that the Fed may continue cutting rates in the coming weeks. Commodity prices rose across the board.
Investors ended the week with a mixed session as the US government shutdown, which prevented the release of the employment report, clouded sentiment. Sovereign yields edged lower in the euro area and stocks mostly advanced, while US Treasury yields ended higher, and equities were mostly flat weighed down by the underperformance of tech stocks.
Markets were mixed in yesterday's session as uncertainty about the situation in France and the US government shutdown continued to dampen investors' sentiment. Sovereign yields edged higher on both sides of the Atlantic and the euro weakened to $1.15 against the dollar. Euro area stocks were mixed and US stocks fell as the tech-fueled rally took a pause.
Thursday saw another mixed session in financial markets. US Treasury yields declined after several Fed officials commented on further rate cuts, although they disagreed on the magnitude and pace of easing. Eurozone sovereign bond yields also fell, particularly Italian ones, following the Government’s submission of its Draft Budgetary Plan to the European Commission.
Markets had a relatively calm session ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting today, where it is widely expected to lower interest rates by 25bp. Sovereign yields were mostly flat on both sides of the Atlantic, while the EURUSD cross held steady around 1.16. Equities advanced in the US on the back of a strong earnings season and were mixed in the euro area.
As it has happened 4 times in the past, near the ending of a US government shutdown, equity markets rallied in Europe. In the US, however, main indices were mixed, with the Nasdaq registering losses as investors remained cautious about too-high valuations of tech companies. Last night, Trump signed into law the spending bill, allowing the US government to reopen.
US Treasury yields dropped along the curve after the ADP survey showed an unexpected decrease of private payrolls in November, suggesting further weakness of the job market and consolidating views on a rate cut by the Fed next week. In consequence, the dollar depreciated against all its main peers.
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.
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.
As expected, the Federal Reserve maintained its policy rate in the 3.50%-3.75% range. Fed Chair Jerome Powell struck a somewhat hawkish tone, highlighting activity strength, labor market stabilization and elevated inflation. Treasury yields ended the session flat and the dollar rebounded from its sharp decline since last Friday, gaining against the euro and the yen.
Caution prevailed in yesterday’s session amid the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Equity markets paused their recovery, while sovereign yield curves saw no material moves. The US dollar strengthened to a four‑month high against the euro.
During yesterday's session, market volatility continued to be elevated as the conflict in the Middle East approached its third week. Energy prices continued to rise as tensions intensified in the Strait of Hormuz, despite the International Energy Agency announcing the record release of 400 million barrels from their oil reserves, which investors see as insufficient.
Yesterday's session began with news that the US was extending the ceasefire until Iran retakes the negotiations, lowering market volatility. Despite this, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian coast persists, as Iran seized two vessels, thus driving Brent prices back above $100/barrel, and opening today's session nearly at $103.
Yesterday's was a volatile session in the market, driven again by geopolitical developments the Middle East. It started with a risk-off tone, as Iran reportedly suspended its contact with the US in response to the Israelian attacks to Lebanon; however, later news reporting that Hezbollah was ready to agree to a ceasefire switched the market sentiment in late session.
Risk sentiment improved on Monday, after reports during the last hour of the weekend announced a deal reached by the US and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, although its details are yet to be defined. TTF natural gas fell by more than 9%, closing the session at EUR 42.5/MWh, while Brent crude prices dropped nearly 5%, settling just above $83/bbl. Market implied volatility sharply fell sharply for the second consecutive session.
On yesterday's session, markets kept a positive tone, as the US-Iran peace talks progressed and the US Treasury allowed Iranian oil sales, easing supply risks. Oil prices fell more than 3%, the dollar rose slightly, while the pound edged up higher on the announcement of PM's Keir Starmer resignation and the prospect of an orderly leadership transition.