Dear Reader,

Today's economic news and market action:

• Looking back over February, there was some notable market moves
• A key feature was a clear firming in rate hike expectations
• Occurred against backdrop of encouraging data, higher inflation and hawkish central banks
• Currency-wise, the dollar came back into the ascendancy
• At the same time, euro lost some ground to sterling
• EUR/USD starts the month of March down at $1.06
• EUR/GBP opens this morning at 88p
• Today’s macro highlights are German inflation and US manufacturing ISM

Watch our video to learn the key features of a Forward Contract and how it will help provide you with greater certainty on profit margins 

Click the link to listen to AIB Market Talk featuring discussions with our Economists and Treasury experts, providing you with specialist insight into the prevailing topics impacting Financial Markets.

The shift by central banks to smaller rate hikes is not a signal that monetary tightening is about an end. Central banks have continued to emphasise that the battle to bring inflation back under control and restore price stability is far from won.

Keep on Rocking in the Rate World

The shift by central banks to smaller rate hikes is not a signal that monetary tightening is about an end.

Ireland's manufacturing sector posted in expansion territory in February amid a renewed upturn in new orders and strong growth in workforce numbers.