In the first session of the week, central banks remained the focus of investors’ attention, as they continue to digest the high-for-longer rhetoric. Yesterday, the hawkish tone of some FOMC members’ comments pushed US 10-year Treasury yields higher, fluctuating above 4.5%, a level not seen since late 2007.
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Investors' risk appetite increased on Wednesday as the ADP jobs report for June surprised to the downside and the ISM services report came in below expectations at 48.8. Separately, the release of the latest FOMC minutes showed that Fed officials acknowledged a slight slowdown in the economy as well as easing price pressures.
Yesterday's session began with news that the US was extending the ceasefire until Iran retakes the negotiations, lowering market volatility. Despite this, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian coast persists, as Iran seized two vessels, thus driving Brent prices back above $100/barrel, and opening today's session nearly at $103.
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.
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.
Risk-off sentiment took over yesterday's session. Oil and gas surged amid escalating tensions in the Middle East (eg., the Houthis attacked two Saudi Arabian tankers in the Red Sea), sending global stocks lower and triggering higher sovereign yields across the board. In FX markets, the U.S. dollar index strengthened towards a one-month high.
Financial markets recorded yet another session with high volatility, with the key drivers remaining the direction of monetary policy, the escalation in tensions with Russia and the strength of the USD.
In the first session of the week, investors traded with optimism, after the worse-than-expected US ISM data for September let traders to think the Fed could pursue a less aggressive monetary policy stance than previously expected. Nevertheless, NY Fed President John Williams said that there is still job to do to curb inflation.
In yesterday's session, investors maintained their appetite for riskier assets, after a drop in the number of job vacancies in the US fueled expectations of a monetary policy pivot from the Fed. In this direction, the central bank of Australia decided to hike rates by 25bp, slowing down the pace of its tightening.
Monetary policy tightening centered the stage again, with several US Federal Reserve members arguing that interest rates needed to be hiked further and that there were no clear signs of inflation having peaked yet. In the euro area, the accounts of the last ECB meeting revealed a broad-based concern of GC members about current inflation figures.
Caution prevailed in yesterday’s session amid the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Equity markets paused their recovery, while sovereign yield curves saw no material moves. The US dollar strengthened to a four‑month high against the euro.
Another day of rollercoaster swings across financial markets, following the negative surprise in the inflation report in the US and the upside revisions in investors’ expectations of the pace of monetary policy tightening.
On Friday, the survey of the University of Michigan showed an increase in inflation expectations for the US, which led to a rise in sovereign yields and sharp losses on US stock indices. Meanwhile, in Europe, equities managed to register moderate advances. The US dollar strengthened against most currencies and the euro fluctuated below $0.98.
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.
The hawkish tone of the ECB at its yesterday's meeting centered the stage in financial markets. The ECB raised official interest rates by 50bp, as expected, but noted that ongoing increases at a "steady pace" will be necessary to bring inflation back to the 2% target and announced that the QT will start in March by not reinvesting €15bn/month.
In yesterday’s session, monetary policy tightening from the main central banks continued to center the stage in financial markets. The Bank of Japan surprised with its decision to increase the range of tolerance around its yield curve control tool. The ten-year sovereign yield rose 25bp towards 0.50% and the JPY appreciated markedly.
Risk aversion returned to the fore during a session characterized by low volumes in the run-up to the holiday season. Investors continued to reassess their expectations about monetary policy tightening amid hawkish commentary from some ECB officials and robust economic data in the US (e.g., new jobless claims and the upward revision in Q3 GDP).
Investor sentiment was mixed across the globe on Friday. In the eurozone, government bond yields rose as preliminary PMI data for January came in above expectations thanks to a slight improvement in the manufacturing sector to 46.1. US Treasury yields fell as both the services PMI and the U. of Michigan consumer sentiment index surprised to the downside.
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.
Risk appetite continued to set the tone in the last session of the week, as investors reassessed prospects for less aggressive monetary policy tightening, on the back of reduced inflationary pressures, and took on board mixed results at the start of the Q4 earnings season among large US banks.