UOB Economist Lee Sue Ann expects the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to keep the cash rate at 4.10% through 4Q26, after a split decision hike in March driven by Iran-related energy shocks and a strong labour market.
Germany IFO – Business Climate came in at 88.6, above expectations (86.1) in March
German IFO Institute's Business Climate Index deteriorates to 86.4 in March from 88.4 in February, revised lower from 88.6.
Switzerland ZEW Survey – Expectations fell from previous 9.8 to -35 in March
Germany IFO – Expectations in line with forecasts (86) in March
Germany IFO – Current Assessment came in at 86.7, above forecasts (86) in March
Germany IFO – Business Climate came in at 86.4, above expectations (86.1) in March
European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde signaled at the ECB and its Watchers conference at Goethe University in Frankfurt during European trading hours on Wednesday that the central bank is ready for monetary policy adjustments if inflation proves stronger.
Commerzbank’s Thu Lan Nguyen notes that EUR/USD has rebounded about two cents from its recent low near 1.14, driven mainly by Euro strength while the Dollar trades sideways.
OCBC strategists Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong highlight that rising Oil prices are worsening Japan’s terms of trade, fiscal risks and policy uncertainty, keeping the Japanese Yen (JPY) under pressure.
Gold (XAU/USD) retains positive bias through the first half of the European session, though it remains below the weekly high, around the $4,600 mark set earlier this Wednesday.
Dow Jones futures inch higher 0.7% to near 46,750 during European hours, ahead of the United States (US) regular market open on Wednesday. Meanwhile, S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures gains 0.6% and 0.63% to near 6,650 and 24,360, respectively, at the time of writing.
