Dear Reader,

 

Today's overview of economic news and market action

  • Last week was relatively quiet on markets …
  • A somewhat sparse data schedule contributed to the limited price action …
  • Against his backdrop, the main FX pairs were range bound …
  • EUR/USD opens today at the midpoint of $1.08-1.09 …
  • GBP/USD is in the $1.26-1.27 corridor …
  • EUR/GBP is near the halfway mark of 85-86p …
  • This week, a busier macro schedule includes the ECB policy meeting …
  • In the US remarks from Chair Powell and the labour market report (Feb) are due …
  • In the UK, the focus is on the Spring Budget …
 
Continue Reading
 
Today's Opening FX Rates
 
    % Change
      Day* End 2022
EUR/USD 1.0849   0.36 -1.69
EUR/GBP 0.8562   -0.01 -1.22
GBP/USD 1.2667   0.33 -0.49
GBP/EUR 1.1675   0.01 1.24
*versus Previous Day's European Open
 
AIB Ireland Manufacturing PMI® - February 2024
 

The latest AIB Ireland Manufacturing PMI® survey indicated strengthening business conditions, with production growth accelerating to the highest for 22 months amid a renewed improvement in order books. Staffing numbers also expanded in February as manufacturers sought to boost production schedules and support long-term business development plans.
 
Read More
 
 
 
Weekly Market Brief: 4 - 8 March
 

Ireland’s Volatile Growth Metrics

 

Ireland’s latest national accounts data for Q4 2023 reveal a sharp fall in growth, with GDP declining by 3.2% in 2023, revised down from a provisional estimate of -1.9%. 
 
Read More
 
Economist's Weekly Market View
 

Ireland’s labour market was exceptionally strong at the end of 2023

 

The headline statistics show employment continued to grow at a robust pace, up 3.4% in the year to Q4 2023, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains close to historic lows at 4.5%. Over 2.7 million people are now at work in Ireland, helped by an upward revision to the labour force from Census 2022, which bumped up labour force and employment levels.
 
Read More
 
ECB Watch - January 2024
 

ECB on hold for third straight meeting

 

The first policy setting meeting of the ECB’s Governing Council for 2024 saw the Central Bank maintain its key deposit rate at 4%.
 
Read More