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Market Summary by AFORTI: Eurozone interest rates, uncertainty in the markets, PMI in Europe

2025-04-22

Economic indicators

Poland:

1. CPI (m/m) (March): value 0.2%; forecast 0.1%; previously 0.3%;

2. CPI (y/y) (March): value 4.9%; forecast 4.9%; previously 4.9%;

3. Core CPI (y/y) (March): value 3.6%; forecast 3.5%; previously 3.6%;


Eurozone:

1. CPI (m/m) (March): value 0.20%; forecast no data; previously 0.20%;

2. CPI (y/y) (March): value 0.80%; forecast no data; previously 0.80%;

3. Interest rate decision (April): value 2.40%; forecast 2.40%; previously 2.65%;

4.  Total reserve assets (March): value $1,510.27B; forecast no data; previously $1,477.77B;

5. Inflation (y/y) (March): value 0.70%; forecast no data; previously 0.70%;

6. Deposit rates (April): value 2.25%; forecast 2.25%; previously 2.50%;


Germany:

1.  Wholesale Price Index (WPI) (y/y) (Mar): value 1.3%; forecast no data; previously 1.6%;

2. Wholesale Price Index (WPI) (m/m) (Mar): value -0.2%; forecast 0.2%; previously 0.6%;

3. ZEW Current Economic Conditions Index (Apr): value -81.2; forecast -86.0; previously -87.6;

4. ZEW Economic Sentiment (Apr): value -14.0; forecast 10.6; previously 51.6;

5. Industrial production (m/m) (Feb): value 1.1%; forecast 0.1%; previously 0.6%;

6. Industrial production (y/y) (Feb): value 1.2%; forecast -0.8%; previously -0.5%;


France:

1. CPI (y/y) (March): value 0.8%; forecast 0.8%; previously 0.8%;

2. CPI (m/m) (March): value 0.2%; forecast 0.2%; previously 0.0%;

3. HICP (m/m) (March): value 0.2%; forecast 0.2%; previously 0.1%;


United Kingdom:

1. Rightmove house price index (m/m) (Apr): value 1.4%; forecast no data; previously 1.1%;

2. Rightmove house price index (y/y) (Apr): value 1.3%; forecast no data; previously 1.0%;

3. Average wages, excluding bonuses (Feb): value 5.9%; forecast 6.0%; previously 5.8%;

4.  Average wages, including bonuses (Feb): value 5.6%; forecast 5.7%; previously 5.6%;

5. Unemployment claims (Mar): value 18.7K; forecast 30.3K; previously 16.5K;

6. Unemployment rate (Feb): value 4.4%; forecast 4.4%; previously 4.4%;


USA:

1. Consumer inflation expectations (March): value 3.6%; forecast no data; previously 3.1%;

2. Export price index (m/m) (March): value 0.0%; forecast 0.1%; previously 0.5%;

3. Export price index (y/y) (March): value 2.4%; forecast no data; previously 2.1%;

4. Import price index (m/m) (March): value -0.1%; forecast 0. 1%; previously 0.2%;

5. Import Price Index (y/y) (March): value 0.9%; forecast no data; previously 2.0%;

6. New York Manufacturing Index (April): value -8.10; forecast -12.80; previously -20.00;

7. Redbook Index (y/y): value 6.6%; forecast no data; previously 7.2%;

7. Redbook Index (y/y): value 6.6%; forecast no data; previously 7.2%;

8.  Business inventories (m/m) (Feb): value 0.2%; forecast 0.3%; previously 0.3%;

9. NAHB real estate index (Apr): value 40; forecast 38; previously 39;

10. Crude oil inventories: value 0.515M; forecast 0.400M; previously 2.553M;


China:
1. Trade Balance (USD) (March): value $102.64B; forecast 74.30B; previous 170.52B;
2. Trade Balance (March): value $736.72B; forecast $537.00B; previous 228.19B;
3.  Exports (y/y) (March): value 12.4%; forecast 4.4%; previously 2.3%;
4. Import balance (y/y) (March): value -4.3%; forecast -2.0%; previously -8.4%;
5.  Industrial Production (y/y) (March): value 7.7%; forecast 5.9%; previously 5.9%;
6. Industrial Production in China (y/y) (March): value 6.5%; forecast no data; previously 5.9%;

Foreign Exchange Market
This week, the euro (EUR) weakened against the zloty (PLN) by 0.42%. The euro price fluctuated between 4.2625 and 4.3056.
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The dollar (USD) also weakened against the zloty (PLN) by 1.66% with a large drop in price on Easter Monday. The dollar price oscillated between 3.7117 - 3.8101 .
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Oil and gold market
The BRENT crude oil price rose by 4.56%, and oscillated in a range of US$63.81 - 68.10/barrel. 
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The gold price rose by as much as another 2.22%, and settled in a range of USD 3211.61 - 3425.31/ounce.
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Stock Exchange
It was a shorter but good week on the WSE. The price of the WIG index increased by 4.44% and oscillated in the range 92 610 - 95 819.
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Cryptocurrencies
The price of Bitcoin (BTC) was little changed and oscillated in the range 316 715 - 326 699.
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Important events of the past week
Eurozone interest rates: The European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to cut its key interest rates by 25 basis points. Following a meeting of the ECB Governing Council, it was announced that the deposit rate is currently at 2.25%. A significant element of the ECB's announcement is that the bank has abandoned the description of its monetary policy as “restrictive” with regard to interest rate levels. During the press conference following the announcement of the decision, ECB President Christine Lagarde indicated that, given the continued heightened uncertainty, future decisions will be taken on an ongoing basis, based on incoming economic data, and that the trajectory of interest rates is not predetermined. Importantly, the decision to cut interest rates was taken unanimously.

Inflation in Poland and Europe: In March this year, the CPI inflation rate in Poland reached 4.9% on an annual basis. Confirmation of this data by the Central Statistical Office (GUS) leads analysts to conclude that the Monetary Policy Council (MPC) will maintain its current rhetoric, which increases the likelihood of an interest rate cut in May. Poland's core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, was 3.6% year-on-year in March. By contrast, the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) in the euro area stood at 2.2% year-on-year in March. This reading was in line with both the preliminary estimate and economists' forecasts.

Uncertainty in financial markets: Uncertainty over Donald Trump's trade policies persists in financial markets. Escalating trade tensions and increased uncertainty could negatively impact the economic outlook for the euro area, and the impact of tariffs on inflation remains ambiguous. In the US, there has been an increase in uncertainty and deterioration in business sentiment, largely as a result of the ongoing trade war and volatile tariff decisions. The confusion over tariffs is contributing to a surge in gold prices, which have hit another record high.

Events worth watching this week
PMI indicators in Europe: PMIs for a number of European countries will be published this week. On Wednesday, we will learn data from France, Germany, the Eurozone and the UK. This is a key indicator reflecting the economic activity of businesses in a country or sector of the economy. A score above 50 points signals an increase in activity and usually translates into a strengthening currency, while a reading below 50 points indicates a decline in activity and can cause the currency to weaken. For all the countries mentioned, this indicator is forecast to fall to neutral or even negative values. If these predictions are confirmed, this could result in a weakening of both the euro and sterling.

Sales and employment data in Poland: This week, the Central Statistical Office will publish, among other things, the latest data on retail sales (on Wednesday) and the unemployment rate (on Thursday). Forecasts indicate a reduction in the unemployment rate, while no forecasts are available for retail sales. In the event of an increase in retail sales and a decrease in the unemployment rate, the zloty should gain in value. However, in the event of an unexpected rise in the unemployment rate, which is possible in light of the recent redundancies, the Polish currency may weaken.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
AFORTI.BIZ

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