European and UK stocks are outperforming their US counterparts due to a combination of factors, including high valuations in the US, strong corporate earnings from European companies, and expectations of looser monetary policies in Europe and the UK, according to Ipek Ozkardeskaya, Senior Analyst at Swissquote Bank.
The Stoxx 600 and the FTSE 100 reached new record highs yesterday, while the S&P 500 stalled. The AI rally, which has been driving major US indices, appears to be losing momentum, with companies like Nvidia and AMD experiencing declines from their March peaks.
The US Federal Reserve (Fed) remains committed to its inflation target, with recent comments from Fed speakers Susan Collins and Lisa Cook suggesting that reaching the 2% goal may take longer than previously anticipated. Cook also noted that firms have ample earnings to cover debt payments and that financial firms are well-positioned to absorb shocks.
In contrast, central banks in Europe are taking a different approach. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) lowered its policy rate in Q1 due to a sufficient slowdown in inflation, and the Riksbank opted for a 25bp cut yesterday, signaling the possibility of two more rate cuts this year. The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to cut rates in June, and the Bank of England (BoE) may provide more details on its plans to lower rates at today's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
European policymakers are determined to ease their monetary policies regardless of the Fed's actions, despite the risk of currency depreciation and increased domestic price pressures. As long as the dollar's appreciation remains manageable, the European currencies may continue to depreciate against the US dollar.
The BoE is not expected to cut its policy rate today, but the MPC is anticipated to have less agreement on the timing of future rate cuts. Four out of nine MPC members are considered hawkish, while Governor Bailey has shifted his stance from "it's too early to talk about cuts" to "the inflation dynamics between the US and UK are diverging." Some analysts see a small chance of a BoE rate cut in June, alongside the ECB, but a more realistic scenario is an August cut.
The British Pound (GBP) is currently trading in a bearish consolidation zone, and unless unexpectedly hawkish statements are made, it is likely to continue attracting sellers near the 1.25 level leading up to next week's US inflation report.
European and UK stocks are outperforming their US counterparts due to a combination of factors, including high valuations in the US, strong corporate earnings from European companies, and expectations of looser monetary policies in Europe and the UK, according to Ipek Ozkardeskaya, Senior Analyst at Swissquote Bank.
The Stoxx 600 and the FTSE 100 reached new record highs yesterday, while the S&P 500 stalled. The AI rally, which has been driving major US indices, appears to be losing momentum, with companies like Nvidia and AMD experiencing declines from their March peaks.
The US Federal Reserve (Fed) remains committed to its inflation target, with recent comments from Fed speakers Susan Collins and Lisa Cook suggesting that reaching the 2% goal may take longer than previously anticipated. Cook also noted that firms have ample earnings to cover debt payments and that financial firms are well-positioned to absorb shocks.
In contrast, central banks in Europe are taking a different approach. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) lowered its policy rate in Q1 due to a sufficient slowdown in inflation, and the Riksbank opted for a 25bp cut yesterday, signaling the possibility of two more rate cuts this year. The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to cut rates in June, and the Bank of England (BoE) may provide more details on its plans to lower rates at today's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
![Bank of England expected to provide guidance on future rate cuts at today's MPC meeting](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1715535073/pexels-raj-photography-83911134-16130341_nb5sms.jpg)
European policymakers are determined to ease their monetary policies regardless of the Fed's actions, despite the risk of currency depreciation and increased domestic price pressures. As long as the dollar's appreciation remains manageable, the European currencies may continue to depreciate against the US dollar.
The BoE is not expected to cut its policy rate today, but the MPC is anticipated to have less agreement on the timing of future rate cuts. Four out of nine MPC members are considered hawkish, while Governor Bailey has shifted his stance from "it's too early to talk about cuts" to "the inflation dynamics between the US and UK are diverging." Some analysts see a small chance of a BoE rate cut in June, alongside the ECB, but a more realistic scenario is an August cut.
The British Pound (GBP) is currently trading in a bearish consolidation zone, and unless unexpectedly hawkish statements are made, it is likely to continue attracting sellers near the 1.25 level leading up to next week's US inflation report.
![Hawkish central bank expectations dampen market sentiment, boosting dollar](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1717027120/pexels-cottonbro-3943748_fytqhx.jpg)
Banking
Hawkish central bank expectations dampen market sentiment, boosting dollar
Recent economic data and central bank communications have dampened the market's appetite for risk assets, leading to a stronger US dollar and a pullback in commodities and equities, according to Ipek ...Read more
![Investors advised to prepare for central bank policy divergence, says deVere CEO](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1715534700/pexels-olliecraig1-6398587_kpuguu.jpg)
Banking
Investors advised to prepare for central bank policy divergence, says deVere CEO
The Bank of England, European Central Bank (ECB), and US Federal Reserve are set to take different paths in their monetary policies, which will significantly impact investors around the world, ...Read more
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1712530125/pexels-nappy-935979_znvj1g.jpg)
Banking
Open Banking data proves superior to screen scraping, Frollo study reveals
Frollo, a leading Open Banking provider in Australia, has published a study demonstrating the superior quality of data obtained through Open Banking compared to traditional screen scraping methods, ...Read more
![Global banknote study reveals gender disparity: Only 7.54% depict women](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1709085366/Global_banknote_study_reveals_gender_disparity-_Only_7.54_depict_women_w9nmtg.jpg)
Banking
Global banknote study reveals gender disparity: Only 7.54% depict women
A recent study by TradersBest has uncovered a significant gender disparity on the world's banknotes, with findings indicating that out of 716 individuals featured across 115 countries, only 54 are ...Read more
![JPMorgan Chase leads the global banking sector in AI adoption, outpacing rivals](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1709084410/Australian%20Aviation/seremetidis_court_ulfgal.jpg)
Banking
JPMorgan Chase leads the global banking sector in AI adoption, outpacing rivals
A recent study indicated that JPMorgan Chase has positioned itself as the leading force among financial institutions embracing artificial intelligence (AI) for enhancing customer satisfaction and ...Read more
![Exact Payments acknowledged as a leading payments ISV by the Electronic Transactions Association](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1708902029/exact-payments-eta_vqj4zf.jpg)
Banking
Exact Payments acknowledged as a leading payments ISV by the Electronic Transactions Association
The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), a prominent advocacy and trade association for the payments industry, has recognized Exact Payments as one of the Top 10 Payments Independent Software ...Read more
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1699328705/The_future_of_digital_banking_in_Australia_trends_and_implications_for_investors_njkzsl.png)
Banking
The future of digital banking in Australia: Trends and implications for investors
As technology continues to reshape our lives, its influence on the financial sector is particularly transformative. One sector at the epicentre of this change is banking. Read more
![ANZ sued for allegedly misleading customers](/images/resize/ANZ-new-still1-ne_6c14.jpg.webp)
Banking
ANZ sued for allegedly misleading customers
The corporate regulator has commenced civil proceedings in Federal Court. Read more