Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell struck a cautious tone on Friday, highlighting the challenges posed by policy uncertainty in shaping monetary policy. He pointed to the unpredictability surrounding the Trump Administration’s policies and their economic implications as a significant factor.Powell emphasized that while long-term inflation expectations remain stable and aligned …
Read More »U.S. Job Growth Provides Dovish Boost Despite Higher Unemployment
The U.S. economy added 151,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in February, a figure that was lower than the 159,000 forecast but marked an improvement from the revised January total of 125,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Friday. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.1%, slightly …
Read More »European Markets Fall Amid ECB Cuts, Trade Policy Uncertainty, and U.S. Data Concerns
European stock markets sank on Friday as investors digested the latest European Central Bank (ECB) rate reduction ahead of key U.S. employment data, amid persistent uncertainty over U.S. trade policies. At 06:30 ET (11:30 GMT), the pan-European Stoxx 600 dropped 0.5%, Germany’s DAX fell 1.6%, France’s CAC 40 slipped 1.0%, …
Read More »Oil Prices Tumble as Tariff Fears and OPEC+ Production Hikes Weigh on Markets
Oil prices in Asian trading remained nearly unchanged on Friday, hovering close to their weakest levels for the year, as fears of increased U.S. trade tariffs continued to dampen risk appetite. Brent crude futures for May delivery rose 0.2% to $69.60 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed …
Read More »Will Macron Extend Nuclear Umbrella to European Allies?
President of France Emmanuel Macron is exploring the possibility of extending France’s nuclear deterrence to include European allies, addressing the escalating threat posed by Russia. This proposal arises amidst growing doubts about the United States’ dedication to European security and NATO, particularly following actions by former U.S. President Donald Trump …
Read More »Jobs Data Eve: Key NFP Looms Amid Shifting Market Dynamics
NFP Anticipation: Jobs Growth Expected Amidst Economic ShiftsThe US labor market’s health is once again under scrutiny as the February Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report approaches. Scheduled for release on Friday, March 7, the data is expected to reveal the creation of approximately 160,000 net new jobs. Economists also anticipate a …
Read More »Canadian Export Surge Attributed to Tariff Avoidance
A significant and unexpected surge in Canada’s goods trade surplus in January was primarily caused by Canadian companies accelerating shipments to the United States to preempt potential tariffs. The substantial increase in exports to the U.S. was a direct response to the threat of levies. A corresponding, though smaller, rise …
Read More »Tariffs Pose “Substantial” Risks to UK and Global Economies, Bank of England Warns
The potential impact of escalating US tariffs on the UK economy, and indeed the global economy, is a cause for serious concern, according to the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey. Speaking before MPs, Bailey emphasized that these tariffs could significantly hinder economic growth and present “substantial” risks.The …
Read More »Lagarde’s Data Dance: ECB Cuts, But Future Unclear
The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced a 25 basis point reduction in its policy rate, bringing the deposit rate to 2.50%. This decision signals a shift in the ECB’s assessment of its monetary policy, with the central bank now viewing its stance as “becoming meaningfully less restrictive.” This suggests …
Read More »European Stocks Present Modest Upside Despite Valuation Concerns
Goldman Sachs strategists have signaled a modest upside for European stocks, even as the market continues to show strong performance forecasts for 2025. In a recent note, Guillaume Jaisson and his colleagues highlighted that while Europe now trades at a forward P/E of 14.2x—slightly above historical averages—it still commands a …
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