Weekly Outlook: Kingfisher and Bellway to report
Key events for wealth managers in the week beginning 24 March
Macro News
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Bank of England holds interest rates amid market uncertainty
The central bank followed the Federal Reserve in remaining cautious as Trump threatens global tariffs
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Fed holds rates as Trump’s tariffs downgrade US growth forecasts
The central bank remained cautious as uncertain trade policy risks inflation ‘spiralling’
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Gold passes $3,000 for first time – can it keep climbing?
Market uncertainty is pushing gold to new highs, with elevated investor demand ‘likely to persist’
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Weekly Outlook: Fed, BoJ and Bank of England central bank decisions
Key events for wealth managers in the week beginning 17 March
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ECB delivers second interest rate cut of 2025
25 bps cut announced amid fiscal stimulus in Germany and US tariff fears
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Canada and Mexico tariffs ‘sharply escalate the risk of all-out global trade war’
Canada, China and Mexico retaliated to Trump’s ‘dangerous and high stakes’ moves with counter tariffs
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German election result brings prospect of a ‘business-friendly’ coalition
Friedrich Merz is set to become Germany’s chancellor after the Christian Democrats won the largest share of the Bundestag
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‘Cause for concern’ as UK inflation rises unexpectedly to 3%
The BoE will be trying to avoid stagflation as economic growth becomes a top priority for future rate cuts
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European markets boosted by defence stocks
Stoxx 600 and Dax 40 both hit highs following the start of talks between the US and Russia over the Ukraine war
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UK unemployment rate holds steady at 4.4%
Marginally below the Bank of England’s forecast of 4.5%
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UK GDP increases by 0.1% in Q4 2024
An upside surprise versus consensus forecasts of a 0.1% fall