financetom
World
financetom
/
World
/
Morning Bid: Relief rally follows week to forget
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Morning Bid: Relief rally follows week to forget
Apr 21, 2024 10:03 PM

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Kevin Buckland

The relief rally spreading through Asian markets is set to sweep into Europe at the open, with the FTSE in particular set for a 1% pop.

Neither Iran nor Israel looks interested in any further escalation in the unprecedented hostilities of last week, and investors appear eager to get back into risk, paring back holdings of safe haven assets such as bonds, gold and the dollar.

That's not to say all has gone quiet. A U.S. base in Syria was the target of a rocket attack on Sunday, ostensibly from Iraq-based Hezbollah fighters.

And beyond the Middle East, the other weights on world stocks - which dragged them to their worst week in more than a year - still linger, namely later Fed rate cuts and caution over chip sector earnings.

Evidence of the latter was on display in Japan, with the tech-heavy Nikkei's 0.7% rise lagging a 1.3% jump for the broader Topix.

In a relatively light week for macro data and events, the headliner is the Bank of Japan's policy meeting on Friday, when new inflation forecasts are due, even if economists consider it too soon for another rate hike.

For the United States, the main focus is Friday's PCE deflator, the Fed's preferred consumer price gauge. No Fedspeak will be forthcoming, as we enter the blackout period before next week's policy decision. But the message of late from every Fed official has been the same: no rush to cut.

There has been no end of ECB rhetoric in recent days, coalescing around a June cut.

French central bank chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Sunday that "barring surprises, there is no need to wait much longer" for policy easing, even amid risks from the Middle East. Following June though, reductions should be at a "pragmatic pace."

The comments show the split emerging inside the ECB about the pace of easing. Pierre Wunsch and Madis Muller came out separately on Friday backing multiple cuts this year.

ECB President Christine Lagarde has a chance to weigh in later today when she gives a lecture at Yale.

Key developments that could influence markets on Monday:

- ECB President Christine Lagarde's lecture at Yale

- Euro zone flash consumer confidence (April)

- SAP earnings

(Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
CANADA STOCKS-TSX flat as investors assess trade talks, corporate results
CANADA STOCKS-TSX flat as investors assess trade talks, corporate results
Jul 22, 2025
July 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was subdued on Tuesday, as investors awaited potential trade deals between the U.S. and its partners and assessed corporate results to gauge the impact of tariffs on businesses. At 9:31 a.m. ET (1331 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.04% at 27,327.63 points. ...
Asian Equities Traded in the US as American Depositary Receipts Trend Lower in Tuesday Trading
Asian Equities Traded in the US as American Depositary Receipts Trend Lower in Tuesday Trading
Jul 22, 2025
10:33 AM EDT, 07/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were lower Tuesday morning, declining 0.59% to 2,370.24 on the S&P Asia 50 ADR Index. From North Asia, the gainers were led by polysilicon manufacturer Daqo New Energy ( DQ ) and biopharmaceutical company Zai Lab ( ZLAB ) , which climbed 11%...
PRECIOUS-Gold hits five-week peak on trade jitters, lower bond yields
PRECIOUS-Gold hits five-week peak on trade jitters, lower bond yields
Jul 22, 2025
(Updates for U.S. hours open) * EU explores broader counter-measures as US tariff deal prospects dim * Fed's Bowman says monetary policy without political interference is very important * Bullion hits highest since June 16 July 22 (Reuters) - Gold climbed to a five-week high on Tuesday, drawing strength from trade uncertainty and weaker U.S. bond yields as investors continue...
CANADA STOCKS-TSX flat as investors await trade updates
CANADA STOCKS-TSX flat as investors await trade updates
Jul 22, 2025
(Updates with morning prices, adds analyst quotes) By Sanchayaita Roy July 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was subdued on Tuesday, pressured by technology stocks, as investors awaited potential trade deals between the U.S. and its partners. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 0.03% at 27,307.73 points. Trade negotiations appeared shaky after EU diplomats said the...
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved