The ECB cut interest rates by 25bp for the third time since June, and as expected by financial markets, lowered the deposit rate to 3.25%. The decision was based on increased confidence that inflation is close to target and a shift to a more negative short-term outlook for the euro area economy.
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The minutes of the Fed's June meeting showed that the decision to hold interest rates steady in June was not unanimous, and that most officials expected further rate hikes would be necessary, as the dot plot had shown. Also yesterday, US factory orders data for May came in below expectations, but still showed growth.
The last stages of this cycle of monetary policy tightening centered the stage in yesterday’s session as the ECB hiked interest rates by 25bp (depo at 3.75% and refi at 4.25%). Nevertheless, Christine Lagarde said that this might not be the last hike and insisted that interest rates will remain high for a long period of time to break the back of inflation.
Financial markets continued to digest the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates. Sovereign bond yields edged lower in the euro area and were stable in the U.S., while the dollar extended its recent weakening trend, leaving EUR/USD trading near 1.175. Futures markets continued to price in two rate cuts for next year, despite a seemingly divided FOMC.
Markets ended Friday mixed as Fed guidance revived rate-cut bets, tempering weak sentiment in Asia and Europe. Comments from Fed Williams suggesting December interest rate cuts could align with inflation goals boosted markets' expectations for such event and drove US Treasury yields slightly down.
Markets were mixed in yesterday's session as the Fed and its Chairman Jerome Powell announced a change to the longer-run goals and monetary policy strategy. Volatility rose and stocks declined moderately across AEs and EMs.
Yesterday, investors in the US traded with optimism as the Federal Reserve kept its official interest rates unchanged and reiterated its intention to "act as appropriate to support the economy".
The Fed delivered a hawkish pause yesterday, leaving interest rates unchanged but acknowledging a strong US economy. The dot-plot projects a tighter policy through 2024 and 2025, consistent with rates higher for longer. US stock indices fell and US Treasury yields rose on the news, with the yield curve flattening, while the USD appreciated.
Yesterday investors traded cautiously as the threat of a possible US government shutdown by the end of the week and “high for longer” interest rates continue to lead the narrative. Investors were also at odds with Minneappolis Fed President Neel Kashkari’s dovish tone regarding interest rates path ahead.
Risk appetite deteriorated on Thursday. Sovereign yields fell in the US after a private report (the Challenger index) showed the US economy shed more jobs than expected in October, reportedly due to AI-driven layoffs. Legal uncertainty around Trump tariffs added pressure, as Supreme Court justices questioned their validity during an ongoing hearing. The move came despite Fed officials speaking on the day pushed back against rate cuts, citing inflation risks and the lack of official data.
In yesterday’s session, investors once more weighed the growing tensions in the Middle East and the future path of interest rates. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank would proceed carefully with rates, highlighting that the rise in yields in bond markets is helping to tighten financial conditions.
In yesterday's session, the FOMC decided to leave interest rates unchanged at the 5.25%-5.50% target range. Despite describing the economic outlook with similar words than in September and not ruling out an additional rate hike, markets lowered the probabilities of a further tightening in the monetary policy stance.
In yesterday's session financial markets continued to digest the last US Federal Reserve monetary policy decision, where interest rates were held unchanged at the 5.25%-5.50% target range and President Jerome Powell hinted that we might already be at the peak of the hiking cycle, although new rate hikes were not definitely ruled out.
In Friday’s session, markets traded again with strong risk appetite as investors continued to price in the end of the central banks’ tightening cycle. US employment data showed signs of a cooling labor market, further fueling investors’ expectations of no further rate hikes. Markets are now pricing in a rate cut in June by the Fed and in April by the ECB.
In yesterday’s session, investors traded cautiously amid mixed comments from central bank officials regarding interest rates’ paths ahead. In the euro area, ECB Chief economist Phillip Lane said that not enough progress has been accomplished in bringing inflation back to 2% and some other members did not rule out an additional rate hike.
Markets started the week on a moderately positive note. In a session with no major economic releases, volatility declined, stocks rose moderately across advanced economies, and EM equities were mixed.