Evolution of the international financial markets and evaluation of the main events and economic indicators of the previous day session. Available in English.
U.S. sovereign yields advanced, the USD strengthened moderately and stocks rose after a solid labor market report and as House Republicans came together to pass Trump's budget bill (OBBBA). Investors trimmed expectations about Fed cuts, with market-implied odds of a July cut down to 5% from 25%, and futures on December 2025's FFR rose over 10bp.
Investors traded in an apparent risk-on mood in yesterday's session, with both stocks and sovereign yields rising across the board. Commodity prices also increased across energy, metals and agriculture products. In FX markets the USD wavered and the EUR traded close to $1.18. Market sentiment benefited from the announcement of a U.S.-Vietnam trade deal.
Investors traded cautiously in yesterday's session and, in the euro area, the major stock indices declined and sovereign yields edged lower. In a panel of central banks in Sintra, Fed's Powell acknowledged that the Fed would have already cut rates this year absent Trump's tariffs, while the ECB's Lagarde stated that inflation is at target in the euro area.
Markets started the week in a mixed mood as investors eye trade negotiations and the central bank meetings in Sintra. Market confidence in Fed rate cuts drove U.S. sovereign yields down, while euro area sovereign yields were little changed. The euro strengthened against the dollar and edged towards $1.18 (a 5-year high).
Investors ended the week in a positive mood, supported by trade deal hopes. Stocks rose across the board and sovereign yields nudged up both in the U.S. and the euro area, while the euro was little changed at $1.17 and Brent oil solidified its weekly dive below $70. Last week, the S&P 500 managed to fully recover from early-2025 losses and closed at all-time highs.
A downward revision of US Q1 GDP, primarily due to weaker private consumption growth (0.1% qoq vs. 0.3% previously estimated), increased market expectations that the Fed could lower interest rates as much as 75bp this year compared to the 50bp expected before.
Investors traded cautiously in a session without any major macroeconomic data releases. Attention shifted to the NATO meeting —where members agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP—, ongoing trade uncertainty, the so-far upheld ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and evolving monetary policy expectations.
News of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran boosted risk appetite during yesterday's trading session. Global stocks rallied, while crude oil prices fell amid reduced fears of a potential supply disruption in the Middle East eased. Brent prices fell below $70 per barrel, marking an almost 15% drop from last week's high.
Markets ended the week on a cautious note as heightened tensions in the Middle East, renewed trade uncertainty, and monetary policy actions weighed on investor sentiment. Sovereign bond yields fell on both sides of the Atlantic as demand for safe-haven assets rose.
Yesterday, global markets ended the session on a cautious footing as mounting tensions in the Middle East and renewed trade uncertainty weighed on investor sentiment. European equities edged lower amid broad risk-off flows, while U.S. markets remained shut in observance of Juneteenth. In fixed income, eurozone sovereign yields rose, particularly at the long end of the curve, while peripheral spreads widened.
Amidst elevated geopolitical risks, investors traded cautiously ahead of the FOMC's meeting. The Fed left rates unchanged and still forecasts two rate cuts in 2025 (showing greater dispersion and a slightly hawkish bias than before) but signalling a slower pace of easing ahead. Powell warned that tariffs could push inflation for goods higher over the summer.
Investors turned cautious again on Tuesday as the Israel-Iran conflict continued. US Treasury yields fell ahead of the FOMC meeting, where the Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged as it seeks more clarity on the impact of tariffs. Yesterday's data releases showed a softening US economy in May: retail sales dropped by more than expected (although so-called "core" retail sales increased); import prices remained stable, surprising to the upside; and industrial production fell slightly.