On Monday, the Caixin PMI revealed a slowdown in activity in the Chinese economy, with the index slipping to 50.7 in April from 51.9 in March. Although this marked the 28th straight month of expansion, it was the weakest reading since September 2024, reflecting growing uncertainty in the service sector.
Markets have lacked clear direction this week, as a period of relative calm settled over the economic data landscape. With fewer surprises on that front, investor focus shifted toward upcoming earnings from major corporations and the release of key economic indicators that’s kept them cautious so far.
Market movements can often seem erratic when viewed day to day – prices rise one day, and fall the next, sometimes without any clear explanation. This short-term volatility is especially noticeable during periods of uncertainty, and it’s natural to feel unsettled.
Market jitters spiked early in the week as President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy—especially targeting China—collided with his unusually sharp criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Labelling Powell a “loser” and “Mr. Too Late” for not slashing interest rates sooner, Trump stirred uncertainty across financial markets.
This last week has brought calmer waters for global financial markets, with volatility easing across major regions. It’s a shortened trading week in the UK, Europe, and the US, with markets closed on Good Friday, and UK and European exchanges also shut on Easter Monday.
After a stormy week, markets regained some composure on Tuesday, though some ended the day on a subdued note. A sizeable rally followed the opening bell, sparked by signs that the U.S. might enter negotiations to reduce tariffs on key trading partners.
On Tuesday, the FTSE 100 and European stocks saw positive gains, while US stocks fluctuated before closing marginally higher. As we expected, reports this week suggest that the tariffs announced will be the highest amount set, giving countries the opportunity to take steps to bring the tariff amount down.
This morning, UK headline CPI reading slowed from 3.0% in January to 2.8% in February, while core CPI inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food […]
China’s economy showed promising signs in early 2025, with retail sales rising 4%, driven by the government’s strong efforts to boost domestic consumption and mitigate trade tensions with the US. Industrial production also grew by 5.9%, and fixed asset investment exceeded expectations with a 4.1% increase, adding a positive momentum to the outlook.
On Friday, Chinese policymakers lowered their inflation target to around 2%. By Monday, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that February’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) had fallen 0.7% year over year, with core inflation—excluding food and energy—declining by 0.1% last month.