In yesterday's session, German bonds extended their decline, with the 10-year bund yield reaching 2.83%, and the euro appreciated against the dollar as the ECB cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 2.5%. President Christine Lagarde did not pre-commit to setting rates in any direction in the upcoming meetings, and warned of the uncertainty surrounding the effects of the trade war and increased defense spending.
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Investors remained cautious on Friday in an uncertain global political environment. Eurozone government bond yields were flat, although peripheral spreads widened slightly. US Treasury yields were also slightly higher, with curves flattening, after the Fed's Powell said that tariffs could fuel inflation but that the economy was fine so the Fed should remain cautious.
The week started with a strong risk-off move, particularly in the US. In the eurozone, the Sentix index of investor confidence for March hit its highest level since 2021, while German industrial production for January came in above expectations. Sovereign yield curves flattened as the short end declined, while the long end and spreads were broadly flat.
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.
Investors' risk appetite rebounded slightly yesterday following Trump's comments late Tuesday on the strength of the US economy. Eurozone government bond yields fell slightly amid the ongoing negotiations to lift the German debt brake. US Treasury yields rose and the curve flattened as trade concerns offset the optimism from the strong February CPI print.
Markets traded cautiously yesterday, ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy rate decision today. US Treasury yields were almost flat, as markets expect Fed's policy rate to stay at its current level. On the other side of the Atlantic, euro area sovereign yields were flat, as the German Bundestag approved a fiscal package to boost defence spending, as expected.
Friday's session was mixed as investors continued to weigh tariff uncertainty, monetary policy decisions and the Fed's updated macro forecasts. Sovereign bond yields edged lower on both sides of the Atlantic, while stock markets registered losses in the euro area and Asia, and barely advanced in the US. The dollar was mostly flat.
Generalized risk-off sentiment during yesterday's session following news that President Trump would impose tariffs on the automotive sector by the end of the day, which he finally did (25% on all finished auto imports). Stock markets fell sharply on both sides of the Atlantic, dragged lower by industrial stocks. The dollar strengthened to $1.07 against the euro.
Yesterday all eyes were on Trump's tariffs announcement, which took place after US markets had closed. Trump finally set tariffs close to the worst expectations, with a 34% tariff for China, 20% for the EU and 24% for Japan. Asian equities are down at today's session (Nikkei around -3%), while stock index futures for Europe and the US point to similar losses.
Yesterday marked the third consecutive session with an intense risk-off mode and high volatility in financial markets amid heightened tariff uncertainty and ongoing fears of a global economic slowdown. In this context, sovereign bond yields increased on both sides of the Atlantic, with euro area peripheral risk premia edging higher.
Global markets endured heightened volatility on Thursday following President Trump's surprise announcement of a 90-day suspension of tariffs for most countries, excluding China. The European Union responded by delaying the implementation of its reciprocal measures.
Financial markets saw a mixed session as investors navigate trade policy unpredictability and weigh the economic outlook. In the euro area, industrial production rose +1.1% mom in March, while the German ZEW economic sentiment index registered its largest monthly decline since 2022 due to uncertainty derived from US tariffs.
Global financial markets had a subdued start to the week on Easter Monday, with only the US and Asian markets open, while European markets remained closed.
Investor risk appetite recovered somewhat on Tuesday. In the Eurozone, government bond yields fell as several ECB officials commented that inflation could stabilise at its 2% target sooner than expected just a few weeks ago. The US Treasury curve steepened, as short-term yields rose as traders bet that the US could strike some favourable trade deals with key partners.
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 were mixed during yesterday's session. In the US, sovereign bond yields decreased, reaching a three-week low as investors gained confidence the US Administration is searching for a tariff de-escalation through trade deals. In the euro area, sovereign yields increased, despite ECB officials warning uncertainty due to a trade war will bring lower growth.
Euro area financial markets were closed during yesterday’s session for May 1st holiday. In the US, a better-than-expected ISM manufacturing index, which also showed signs that input prices have been kept elevated due to tariff policy, lowered expectations of four interest rate cuts in 2025 and sent US Treasury yields higher.
Investors kicked-off the week with a quiet session following last week's heavy-data week, which included US Q1 GDP and euro area inflation. This week, markets' attention will shift back to central meetings. The Fed is expected to hold rates steady in Wednesday, and the BoE is expected to deliver a 25bp rate cut on Thursday.
Investors traded cautiously during yesterday's session despite some political noise in Germany, where Frerich Merz was finally elected chancellor in a second round of voting, after having surprisinly lost in the first round. Euro area sovereign bond yields edged only slightly higher, peripheral risk premia held steady, and the region's main equity indices ended lower.
Concerns over the US fiscal stance and debt burden—intensified by recent credit rating downgrades and ongoing tax bill negotiations in Washington—weighed on US financial assets. US Treasury yields rose, particularly on the longer end of the curve, while US stocks fell by more than 1.5%. The US dollar weakened, trading around 1.13 against the euro.