21 July 2026
High five for growth – Download Chart of the week
The Market Place – Download Market Data
- Cooling inflation eased immediate rate hike expectations, but higher oil prices and geopolitical risks kept markets focused on future Federal Reserve policy.
- Political transition shifted attention to fiscal discipline, while stronger sterling reflected investor confidence in stable economic and monetary policy.
- Weak economic growth and rising energy costs reinforced expectations of cautious ECB policy, despite inflation remaining above the target level.
- Geopolitical tensions, slowing Chinese growth and persistent yen weakness increased global market uncertainty, inflation risks and pressure for policy support.