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Investors continued to trade with a cautious tone on Thursday, taking on board a new bath of data pointing to moderating inflationary pressures in Europe and a tight labour market in the US.

In yesterday's session, weaker-than-expected US economic data led investors to lower their expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate hikes at upcoming meetings.

Yesterday’s session saw global equity markets mostly lower and government bond yields rising as investors continued to digest the “higher for longer” interest rate narrative and some weaker than expected US economic data releases.

Yesterday's session was filled with economic data releases. In the US, Q2 2023 GDP revision left growth unchanged from previous estimates at 2.1% SAAR, and personal consumption had its slowest increase in a year. In Europe, September inflation in Germany eased to 4.5% y/y from 6.1% in August but ticked up in Spain to 3.5% from 2.6%.

In yesterday's session, euro area economic releases took center stage. Lower-than-expected October y/y inflation in Germany (3.0% vs 3.3% expected) and in Spain (3.5% vs 3.8% expected) pushed euro area sovereign yields down and the area's main stock indices up. 3Q German GDP growth came in at -0.1% vs -0.2% expected.

Central bank officials continued to push against the expectation of as many as six interest rates cuts in 2024. Yesterday, was Fed’s Christopher Waller turn, who suggested moving not as quickly as in previous easing cycles.

Tuesday was a mixed bag for financial markets, with macro data and earnings releases on the agenda ahead of today’s highly anticipated FOMC meeting.

In yesterday’s session, investors traded cautiously ahead of today’s ECB monetary policy meeting, where we expect official interest rates to remain unchanged (depo and refi at 4.00 and 4.50%, respectively) and a continuation of the data dependency approach.

In yesterday’s session, investors traded on a generalized risk-off sentiment following slightly higher-than-expected inflation in Germany during May: 2.8% yoy vs. 2.7% anticipated, up from 2.4% last month. Hawkish comments from central bank officials from the day before also continued to weigh on overall sentiment.

Yesterday's session provided some mixed signals on investor sentiment. Government bond yields rose slightly on both sides of the Atlantic, with peripheral eurozone spreads narrowing. This was partly explained yesterday's auction of French sovereign bonds, which despite recent volatility were in high demand from investors.

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.

Investors traded in a slightly risk-on mood yesterday. Preliminary Eurozone PMI data for October showed activity remained stagnant, albeit with weaker-than-expected services and stronger-than-expected manufacturing. US PMI data surprised to the upside and labour market data showed fewer jobs are being lost but unemployment benefits are at a three-year high.

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).

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%. 

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.

Markets traded cautiously during yesterday’s session, ahead of key inflation US data releases today (Producer Price Index) and on Wednesday (Consumer Price Index). Sovereign bond yields edged higher on both sides of the Atlantic, with investors still pricing in a more "hawkish" Fed.

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.

Financial markets traded on a mixed tone during yesterday's session. In the euro area, sovereign bond yields edged lower as Eurozone PPI came close to expectations (0.0% yoy, 0.4% mom) and French industrial production contracted by 1.7% yoy, more than expected (-1.2% yoy). ECB office members expressed potentially stronger policy easing ahead.

Uncertainty and risks surrounding US trade policy drove sentiment in financial markets during the session. President Trump imposed 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, to which European Commission President von der Leyen responded "will not go unanswered" while Canada's PM stated that his country will give a "firm and clear" response.

In yesterday's session, investors' caution prevailed amid uncertainty over geopolitical risks, this Sunday's elections in Germany, and the trade war.