Dear Reader,

Today's overview of economic news and market action:

• Mixed mood on markets continued yesterday … 
• Eurozone and UK PMIs weaker than expected, weighing on euro and sterling …
• Sees EUR/USD open this morning back below the $1.11 threshold … 
• GBP/USD is changing hands down near the midpoint of $1.28-1.29 … 
• EUR/GBP remains between 86-87p …
• Relatively quiet schedule ahead today …

Looking Under the Bonnet

Recently published National Accounts data by the CSO underline the exceptional performance of the Irish economy in 2021 and 2022, as it rebounded strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic

Fed’s Last Tango

Markets are becoming increasingly confident that the Federal Reserve will manage to engineer a soft landing for the US economy. 

Economic data, especially on labour markets, have generally surprised to the upside in 2023, though GDP growth was sluggish in Q1.

Global economy still facing considerable headwinds  Central banks remain on rate tightening path, though Fed and ECB appear to be nearing end of their hiking cycle. BoE has further to go, with markets pricing in another 150bps of UK rate hikes