The interest rate and currency markets have been chewing on yesterday’s interest rate decision of the European Central Bank (ECB). As expected, the ECB lowered the deposit rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3.50%.
More interest rate decisions are expected next week, when the US central bank, or Fed, makes its own interest rate decision. The consensus forecast of economists compiled by Bloomberg also expects the Fed to cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points.
Government bond interest rates were mostly down on Friday.
The interest rate on the 10-year US government bond was down 1.7 percentage points to 3.66 percent before half past four, and the interest rate on the 2-year bond was down 4.4 points to 3.60 percent. In Germany, the interest rate on the 10-year loan was down 0.3 points to 2.14 percent, and the interest rate on the 2-year loan was down 1.4 points to 2.20 percent.
Jeni continues to get stronger
On the currency market, the Japanese yen continued to strengthen against other major currencies on Friday.
One euro equaled 1.109 dollars, 156.1 yen, 0.8447 pounds or 11.35 Swedish kronor before half past four. One dollar gave 140.9 yen and one pound gave 1.312 dollars.
Green is expected for Wall Street
Futures predict a cautious bullish opening for Wall Street today.
The futures of the S&P 500 general index were up 0.2 percent before half past four. At the same time, the futures of the technology-focused Nasdaq 100 index had risen by 0.1 percent.
Source: www.arvopaperi.fi
