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Risk-off mode took over financial markets on Friday, as the US employment report showed a cooling labour market. Hiring in the US is slowing down, but not falling off a cliff, so implicit interest money market rates are still discounting a 25 b.p. cut from the Fed at its September meeting.

Investors continued to trade with a cautious mood on Wednesday, as results from the US midterm elections suggested the Republicans may gain control of the House but the Democrats could hold on the Senate. Investors were also taking position ahead of a crucial CPI inflation report in the US today.

Markets had an intense risk-off session following weaker-than-expected manufacturing data in the US, and as investors position themselves for the US jobs report on Friday, which could determine the Fed's next move. In particular, the ISM index for July came in at 47.2, slighlty higher than last month's, but still in contractionary territory.

Investors started the week with a risk-on mood, with sentiment supported by easing COVID restrictions in China, including reports that Chinese regulators are relaxing some rules against some tech giants. Data also showed the decline in the Chinese services sector eased in May (the services PMI rose from 36.2 to 41.4).

In yesterday's session, financial markets traded with an optimistic tone amid positive corporate earnings releases in the U.S. and across Europe. Investors remain concerned, though, about inflationary pressures as the Fed's Beige Book reported significant increases in prices and wages in a decelerating economy.

Energy prices rose on Thursday amid reports of intensified Iranian attacks on tankers crossing Hormuz, before Trump ruled out new US attacks on Iran ahead of the midterms. Eurozone short-term inflation expectations rose, while ECB and Fed hike expectations remained stable, as officials struck a cautious, mildly hawkish tone and did not endorse an October move.

A broad risk-off move dominated Wednesday's session, with Brent crude remaining above $100/barrel amid reports of increased Iranian attacks on tankers crossing Hormuz. In the eurozone, concerns over France's fiscal situation deepened after comments from the Banque de France governor ruling out an ECB intervention.

Rising COVID-19 cases in some regions and inflation concerns, particularly in the US, were yesterday's main drivers in financial markets. Fed Governor Richard Clarida, though, eased fears of an early monetary policy tightening as he said that April's disappointing employment report showed that further substantial progress has not been made yet.

Investors closed the week trading with a risk on mood. Sentiment was supported by news reporting that the Chinese government may scrap some COVID restrictions affecting the airline sector. In addition, investors shrug off the upside surprise in the pace of job creation in the US (+261.000 in October versus 200.000 expected by the consensus).

Wednesday saw another mixed session in the financial markets ahead of today's US inflation report. Government bond yields rose slightly in the eurozone and more sharply in the US. The move in the eurozone came as some ECB officials expressed doubts about a rate cut in October, which had so far been favoured by most of the bank's officials who spoke.

Risk sentiment weakened progressively on Thursday, as early optimism over potential progress in US‑Iran talks faded by reports of skirmishes near the Strait of Hormuz, alongside news that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had again lifted restrictions on US military access to their airspace and military bases.

Investors continued to err on the side of caution during a volatile session marked by the release of US CPI inflation for January. The report showed headline CPI rose by 0.5% m/m (+0,1% in December), while the year-on-year rate eased only mildly (6.4% after 6.5% in December), above expectations (6.2% according to Bloomberg).

Stock indices were mixed as financial markets digested the downward revision of global growth forecasts from the OECD and the downbeat economic releases in the US (2018's trade deficit, the largest since 2008, and ADP employment report slightly below consensus).

Yesterday's session was marked by late optimism after President Trump called off the US-planned strikes on Iran, after reportedly having advanced negotiations with Tehran. Brent crude prices dropped nearly 3%, to settle just above $90/bbl, while gold rebounded more than 3%, being priced above $4200/ounce at session-ending.

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.

Yesterday investors focused their attention on the ECB meeting, which delivered no surprises, and on a report that suggested that Joe Biden's Administration would increase the capital gains rate to finance social spending. In the US, this latter driver increased volatility in stock markets and the main indices declined.

Markets saw a risk-off session following the release of weak economic data in the US. The ISM Manufacturing Index for July fell for the fourth consecutive month and remained in contraction territory (46.8), signaling weakness in the manufacturing sector. Investors also await today's release of the employment report for July.

In the beginning of the week, investors continued to digest the US employment figures report released on Friday, which suggested that the tightness in the labor market is far from moderating at the pace the Fed would like to see.

Financial markets had a mixed session as traders weighed incoming macro data and corporate earnings announcements to gauge the state of the economy. The JOLTs report showed that US job vacancies fell in September, while the Conference Board consumer confidence for October surprised to the upside (as did the German Gfk sentiment index for November).

Risk-aversion dominated financial markets on Thursday, as fears about the potential impact of the omicron variant regained investors’ attention, which were also taking position for the key US November CPI inflation report, to be released today (consensus: 6.8% y/y, after 6.2% in October).