Dear Reader,

Today's overview of economic news and market action

• Investor sentiment remained in a cautious mood yesterday
• S&P 500 posted its fourth straight daily fall
• Currency-wise, the dollar moved back from its recent highs
• EUR/USD opens this morning back in the upper half of $1.06-1.07
• Meanwhile, EUR/GBP remains within 85-86p
• Today’s macro data highlights are all US based
• They include weekly jobless claims and existing home sales

ECB signals June rate cut on the cards

As widely anticipated, the ECB’s Governing Council meeting for April saw the central bank maintain its key deposit rate at 4%. It marked the fifth consecutive policy meeting that the ECB has kept rates unchanged. There was “consensus” rather than unanimity within the Governing Council on the decision.

While markets were largely unmoved by the ECB’s monetary policy statement last Thursday, the tone of the statement and President Lagarde’s press conference was very much a dovish one. This subtle shift in tone is an important scene setter as the ECB nears a likely first cut in June.

ECB’s Dovish Hold Sets the Stage for June Cut

While markets were largely unmoved by the ECB’s latest monetary policy statement, the tone of the statement and President Lagarde’s press conference was very much a dovish one.