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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.

On Tuesday investors traded with a risk-off mood as they took position ahead of the release of key reports for the Q4 earning season this week and the first monetary policy meeting by the Fed on 25-26 January.

Risk-off sentiment dominated investors for most of yesterday's session. In the Eurozone, peripheral spreads narrowed and the German Bund yield curve steepened as talks between political parties over new spending plans continued. US Treasuries rose as well after the JOLTS report showed an increase in job openings in January.

In yesterday's session, investors traded cautiously as they awaited for today's key US employment report for the month of August. Also, in the euro area a mixed inflation HICP was released, with all components except energy exhibiting a disinflationary path in August.

Yesterday’s session centered around the June inflation report from the US: inflation cooled to 3.0% in June (from 3.3% in May) and core inflation fell to 3.3% from 3.4% last month. On a monthly basis, prices fell –0.1%, the first negative rate in four years. Markets are discounting two interest rate cut from the Fed in 2024, and a 40% probability of a third cut.

Investors started the week trading cautiously, taking on board weak sentiment data, hawkish commentary by some ECB officials and news reporting that Russia is due to reduce gas supplies to Europe.

Financial markets posted a mixed performance on Thursday, with moves closely tied to shifting headlines on US‑Iran ceasefire talks. While European markets closed under a cautious tone, US assets benefited from late‑session reports pointing to a draft agreement between the US and Iran to extend the ceasefire.

Investors’ morale improved again on the back of solid economic data reports. June PMI and ISM data in the euro area and in the US reflected that economic growth is gaining momentum and most manufacturing indices remained above the 60 points (EZ at 63.4, US ISM at 60.6, Spain’s at 60.4, +1 pp from the previous month).

Risk-off sentiment took over the market yesterday after the US JOLTS report showed an unexpected rise in job openings in August, which could support further rate hikes by the Fed, although comments from Fed officials on the day were mixed, with Mester leaning towards a hike at the upcoming meeting and Bostic opting to hold.

Market sentiment was dampened by weak investor confidence data in Germany (ZEW index dropped to 7.4 from 13.1 in the previous month), where also Chancellor Scholtz announced elections will be held in February after the ruling coalition collapsed last week. Sentiment was further dampened by caution ahead of today's inflation report in the US.

Investors started the week trading cautiously in a relatively quiet session, as they awaited for key economic data due to be released this week (e.g.: August euro area inflation and US labor market report).

Investors continued digesting this week’s data releases in the US, including the CPI report, retail sales, and new data showing industrial production stalled in April after growing 0.1% in March. In the euro area, remarks from ECB officials including De Guindos, Centeno and De Cos, all pointed to June for an interest rate cut but asserted caution thereafter.

Risk aversion took over the session amid disappointing economic indicators and as media reports suggested that the U.S. and China are struggling to resume negotiations.

In the last session of the week, the awaited release of the September US employment report changed investors’ expectations of the path of interest ahead. Non-farm payrolls increased by a 336k, notably above expectations, and the two previous months were revised by 119k higher. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8%.

Markets had a mixed session. US stocks advanced ahead of Nvidia's earnings report, while most euro area indices retreated. US Treasury yields rose after the BLS announced it will not publish the October and November jobs data before the Fed's next meeting, leading markets to reduce expectations of a rate cut in December to 30%. Euro area sovereign yields were flat.

In the last session of the week, investors continued to trade with a risk-on mode, taking on board the fall in HICP inflation in the eurozone (9.2% in December after 10.1%) and the US employment report for December. On balance, the data suggested central banks will continue hiking policy interest rates but likely at a reduced pace.

Financial markets started the first session of the week with modest gains, focusing on the release of positive earnings results for Q3 (around 80% of the S&P listed firms have reported better-than-expected results) and bringing the S&P to a new record high. In Washington, Democrats lawmakers stepped closer to a deal on Biden’s fiscal agenda.

Signs of easing tensions in energy markets supported a modest improvement in risk sentiment. Reports of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, alongside comments from the IEA on potential reserve releases, pushed Brent crude down by around 3% to $100/barrel. Global equities rebounded, volatility declined, and the US dollar weakened (EUR/USD rose toward 1.15).

Financial markets remained mixed yesterday. US Treasury yields fell as data releases pointed to a higher risk of stagflation. The May's ADP survey showed job creation was much lower than expected; while May's ISM services survey showed the sector contracted slightly and prices paid by businesses rose. Attention will now turn to Friday's non-farm payrolls report.

In the first session of the week, investors digested the US employment report and the HICP inflation data released last Friday together with comments from central bank officials. In particular, San Francisco's Fed President Mary Daly said that a 25bp or 50bp hike in the next meeting are both on the table and pointed to a terminal rate over 5%.