As expected, the ECB hiked rates by 25 basis points the first increase since 2023.
The ECB lifted its main refinancing rate to 2.40% and its deposit facility rate to 2.25%, citing inflation pressures following an Iran conflict-driven energy shock that pushed eurozone inflation to 3.2%. The surprise move comes as the eurozone economy shows signs of weakness, with GDP contracting 0.2% in Q1. Policymakers said the hike is aimed at preventing higher energy prices from becoming embedded in broader inflation. While this may draw criticism from some given the current growth context, the Bank actually has little choice. Unlike the Fed’s dual mandate of inflation and employment, the ECB has a single mandate: price stability. Note a big jump in the ECB's 26/27 inflation forecasts, offset by a drop in GDP forecasts HICP 2026: 3.0%, from 2.6% in March HICP 2027: 2.3%, from 2.0% HICP 2028: 2.1%, from 2.0% GDP 2026: 0.8%, from 0.9% GDP 2027: 1.2%, from 1.3% GDP 2028: 1.5%, from 1.4%
PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST POSTED THIS: "The United States will be hitting Iran ... VERY HARD TONIGHT"
"At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela" Markets do not seem to care anymore...
US PPI inflation for May came in hotter than expected at the headline level but softer at the core level (please see the Bloomberg table below).
Echoing yesterday’s CPI data, this suggests that the PPI spillover from energy into broader prices remains relatively muted for now. It also suggests that the pass-through from PPI to CPI is being offset by margin pressure. Source: Mo El Erian, Bloomberg
Nvidia $NVDA is now worth more than India 🇮🇳
Source: Bloomberg, Barchart
One of the biggest fears on Wall Street right now? That the surge in IPOs and equity issuance could trigger a market sell-off.
But history says the opposite. According to Deutsche Bank’s Jim Reid and strategists Binky Chadha & Parag Thatte, issuance waves usually happen because markets are strong — not because they’re about to crash. Companies raise capital when: • Investor demand is high • Earnings momentum is strong • Risk appetite is elevated Since early 2023, US equity issuance has jumped from ~$30bn to ~$120bn per quarter. Mega-IPOs are coming. Yet even the largest deals are only ~0.1% of the S&P 500 market cap. Past issuance cycles? Median returns were: • +8% over 3 months • +20% over 12 months The only major exception: 2008. Bottom line: strong demand is absorbing new supply. This market still feels a lot more like 1999 than 2008. Source: Zerohedge, DB
A positive contrarian note on SpaceX and Anthropic Saying they have overvalued seems to be the consensus
A positive contrarian note on SpaceX and Anthropic Saying they have overvalued seems to be the consensus
S&P 500 ex AI vs. S&P 500 5-day change
That is the biggest spread since AI was birthed... Source: zerohedge, Bloomberg
Oil falls. Yields rise. Something has shifted
Oil down 15% in three weeks. The two-year yield up 15bps last week to 4.15% - its highest since early 2025. For the first time in months, US macro is back in the driving seat. Source: Jonny Matthews | SuperMacro
