Dear Reader,

Here is an overview of today's economic news and market action:

• Investor sentiment took a turn for the worst yesterday …
• The S&P 500 fell by 1.8%, on concerns of stresses in the US banking-system …
• US and Eurozone rate hike expectations fell sharply …
• Currency-wise, the dollar handed back some of its recent gains …
• Elsewhere, sterling was holding a slightly firmer tone …
• EUR/USD opens today just below $1.06 …
• GBP/USD is operating at the midpoint of $1.19-1.20 …
• EUR/GBP is changing hands back below the 89p threshold …
• US labour market report poses some event risk for the dollar later on …

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Good Inflation News in Short Supply

Recent inflation data have been disappointing, especially in regard to core measures...

Recent inflation data have been disappointing, especially in regard to core measures. It started in the US, with the latest data for core inflation, which excludes food and energy, posting unexpectedly large monthly increases of 0.6% and 0.4% for January and December, respectively, leaving the annual rate stuck around 4.7%.

Ireland's service sector gained some further growth momentum midway through the first quarter of the year with the latest AIB PMI® survey data marking exactly two consecutive years of monthly improvements in business activity, new business, and employment.

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