In yesterday’s session, investors focused their attention to the ECB monetary policy meeting, where interest rates were left unchanged (depo and refi at 4.0% and 4.5%, respectively), and to Q3 GDP figures for the US, which grew at a  solid 4.9% SAAR rate with dynamic rates of growth of private and public consumption and residential investment.

Stronger-than-expected retail sales and industrial production data in the US renewed expectations of a soft-landing for the economy, just as the Fed is expected to lower interest rates today. Rate futures are reflecting a 65% probability of a 50 bp rate cut and a total of -116 bp over the remaining three meetings this year.

The Federal Reserve kicked off its monetary easing cycle with a 50 bp interest rate cut, taking the policy rate to 4.75%-5.00%. The FOMC cited "greater confidence" that inflation is moving sustainably to its 2% target and judged that the risks to its dual mandate are "roughly in balance". The committee sees rates falling another 50bp by year end.

China’s central bank triggered a risk-on mood in financial markets yesterday by introducing the largest stimulus package since the pandemic to support its faltering economy: it reduced reserve requirements for banks, cut a key repo rate, and lowered the mortgage rate for homeowners.

The Fed held its benchmark short-term interest rate and said it will continue to buy $80 billion in Treasury securities and $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month. Policymakers now see the first rate increase coming in 2023 instead of 2024.

Investors ended the week by revising their expectations for future interest rates upwards as Friday’s US employment report for November beat expectations for job creation and a lower unemployment rate. This caused Treasury yields to rise across the board, as it should force the Fed to remain hawkish and potentially delay any interest rate cuts.

A strong US jobs report for January, with the unemployment rate falling 0.1 p.p. to 4.0% (the lowest since May) and wage growth accelerating to 4.1% yoy from 3.9% in December, reaffirmed expectations of a cautious Fed this year. Expectations for the next interest rate cut were delayed to July/September, and the probability of a second rate cut fell below 50%.

Investors' risk appetite rebounded slightly last week, a trend that largely continued into Friday's session. In the eurozone, government bond yields rose slightly, even though ECB's Holzmann, who had been advocating for a pause in rate cuts, acknowledged the disinflationary impact of tariffs and said the ECB's next rate decisions were "completely open".

Financial markets had a mixed performance on Wednesday. US Treasury yields were flat as the Fed kept rates unchanged and Powell said the Fed was in no rush to cut rates and will wait to see the impact of Trump's policies on the economy.

US President Trump announced a 90-day pause on the so-called “reciprocal" tariffs for all targeted countries, but still maintained the 10% general tariff rate and raised the tariff rate for China to 125% after both countries’ authorities escalated the tension. US stocks rallied and the S&P had its largest intraday gain in over 17 years (+9.5%).

Central banks continued to center the stage on Thursday. On the one hand, investors continued to digest the Fed meeting, where Chairman Powell signaled a “slower for higher” approach in interest rates hikes, and, on the other, the Bank of England’s decision to increase rates by 75bp, albeit diminishing market expectations for the path ahead.

Positive session across markets, fuelled by optimism surrounding the trade agreement reached between the Trump administration and the UK government, which has helped ease tensions and is seen as a potential blueprint for ongoing negotiations with other countries. Additionally, the Bank of England cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.25%, citing increased uncertainty in the economic outlook. In contrast, Norges Bank and the Riksbank held rates steady at 4.5% and 2.25%, respectively.