European stocks open to close as markets are rattled by central banks
LONDON — European stocks advanced on Tuesday after sharp declines in global markets on Monday, amid fears that central banks will be forced into aggressive monetary policy tightening with inflation remaining high.
The p an-European Stoxx 600 added 1% in early trade, with banks climbing 2% to lead gains as all sectors and major bourses moved higher.
Global stock markets were sent reeling on Monday, with investors reacting to the potential for more aggressive rate hikes by central banks in Europe and the United States after the latest inflation report.
The U.S. consumer price index report released for May on Friday came in hotter than expected at 8.6% annually, resurfacing market concerns that action from the Federal Reserve and other central banks could hike rates more quickly, a move that could risk tipping the global economy into recession.
Reports are now speculating that a 75 basis point hike to the benchmark funds rate is being considered by Fed officials.
Fed meets
Against this backdrop, the U.S. Federal Reserve is central to market action this week, with Fed officials meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss their next monetary policy move.
The Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to announce at least a 50-basis-point hike on Wednesday, having already raised rates twice this year, though market bets for a 75-basis-point hike have risen in light of Friday’s inflation reading.
The Bank of England‘s Monetary Policy Committee will announce its latest interest rate decision on Thursday. The Bank of Japan, Swiss National Bank and Brazil’s BCB also meet this week.
On the data front in Europe on Tuesday, due for release are German inflation figures for May, the U.K. unemployment rate for April, euro area industrial production data for April and Germany’s ZEW index of economic sentiment for June.
