Markets had a relatively calm session ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting today, where it is widely expected to lower interest rates by 25bp. Sovereign yields were mostly flat on both sides of the Atlantic, while the EURUSD cross held steady around 1.16. Equities advanced in the US on the back of a strong earnings season and were mixed in the euro area.
Regarding macro data, US consumer confidence dropped to a six-month low (Conference Board index at 94.6) amid concerns over job availability, signaling weaker labor market conditions. In the euro area, the ECB's bank lending survey showed banks tightened credit standards in Q3 and cited mostly steady credit demand, albeit it appears to be slowing in certain segments.
In commodity markets, crude oil prices eased, with Brent trading around $64.5/barrel, despite the recently announced U.S. sanctions on the two largest Russian oil companies. Gold prices continued to fall as the year's strong rally, that has pushed up prices by 50%, takes a pause.
BANCO BPI, S.A., com sede na Avenida da Boavista, 1117, 4100-129 Porto; Capital Social: € 1 293 063 324,98; matriculada na CRC Porto sob o número de matrícula PTIRNMJ 501 214 534, como o número de identificação fiscal 501 214 534. Intermediário financeiro registado na CMVM com o n° 300 e no Banco de Portugal sob o código n° 10. Agente de Seguros n.º 419527591, registado junto da Autoridade de Supervisão de Seguros e Fundos de Pensões em 21/01/2019, e autorizado a exercer atividade nos Ramos de Seguro Vida e Não Vida.