SGD

• Positive vibes. Prospect of more China stimulus & German fiscal spending supported sentiment. Equities rose on Friday, as did AUD & NZD.• Tariff impacts. US tariff effects showing up in the data. US consumer sentiment tumbled, while inflation expectations jumped up.• Event Radar. A busy week ahead. China data & US retail sales (Today), BoJ (Weds), US Fed, AU jobs, NZ GDP, & BoE (all Thurs) on the schedule. Global Trends Volatility in markets continued on Friday, although this time risk appetite improved over the final trading session of the week. Equities rose with US indices leading the charge...

• Improved sentiment. After a difficult spell risk appetite improved a little overnight. US equities rose, as did bond yields. AUD & NZD edged higher.• Tariff news. After the US confirmed tariffs on steel & aluminium imports the EU unveiled countermeasures. Canada also announced more steps.• US CPI. Inflation cooled in the US. This supported risk markets. But the data doesn’t yet capture impacts from higher duties on US imports. Global Trends Global trade tensions remain an underlying focus for markets, but despite more tit-for-tat moves over the past 24hrs fragile risk sentiment improved a little after data showed US...

• US jobs. Lukewarm US jobs report didn’t stir the market pot. US equities rose, as did bond yields. EUR extended its upswing. AUD drifted back.• EUR strength. Prospect of more EU fiscal spending is supporting the EUR. AUD/EUR & AUD/GBP down near multi-year lows. Is too much priced in?• Event Radar. US CPI (Weds) due. Bank of Canada (Weds night) expected to cut rates again. News about US tariffs & EU fiscal spending also likely. Global Trends After a volatile spell, particularly in European assets, last week ended without any new significant market ructions. The monthly US jobs report...

• US risks. ISM manufacturing index underwhelmed. Pres. Trump reiterated that tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, & China kick in tomorrow.• Risk sentiment. Backdrop weighed on US yields & equities. AUD/USD holding its ground, but AUD underperformed the EUR, GBP, & JPY.• Volatility. More bursts of market volatility likely. Several global & domestic risk events are scheduled over the rest of this week. Global Trends Diverging regional performance across markets overnight. In Europe, efforts to forge a Ukraine/Russia peace plan and the prospect of greater regional defence spending supported equities (particularly the aerospace and defence sector), pushed up bond...

• Market tensions. Outside of a late session rally in US stocks there was a ‘risk off’ tone. Bond yields fell. USD rose. AUD near where it started February.• Volatility. Markets have been volatile since the November US election. Given the Trump policy platform more bursts of volatility likely over the near-term.• Event radar. US tariffs on MX, CA & CH due to start this week. US jobs report & speeches by Pres. Trump & Fed Chair Powell scheduled. AU GDP due. Global Trends Financial markets remain on edge as underlying macro concerns are compounded by geopolitical tensions. Outside of...