Market Information Friday 20 March 2026

The European Commission will give EU member states more flexibility to temporarily, and in a targeted way, lower high energy prices for households and businesses, while keeping the Emissions Trading System (ETS) intact. Brussels plans to allow more flexible subsidies for energy costs, reduce network charges for energy intensive industries and encourage lower electricity taxes relative to fossil fuels. A €30 bn support package is proposed to stimulate clean technology and decarbonisation investments, with special access for less wealthy member states, while the summit was also marked by sharp criticism of Hungary for blocking an agreed EU loan to Ukraine.

Wall Street closed lower after a volatile trading session, as rising oil and gas prices and persistent inflation concerns weighed on investor sentiment, echoing the negative mood in Europe. Markets pared earlier losses late in the day after Israel said it would help the US reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing oil prices after Brent crude briefly surged before falling back. Ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East kept pressure on markets, while the Federal Reserve reiterated it will not cut interest rates until inflation eases.

The United States has eased sanctions on Belarus’s financial sector and potassium producers, a move expected to support the Belarusian economy and help curb global fertilizer price increases. In return, the Belarusian government released 250 political prisoners, most domestically and a group transferred to Lithuania. The US described the agreement as a humanitarian milestone, stressing that securing the prisoners’ freedom was the primary objective.

The 6M Euribor is unchanged at 2.31% compared to previous business day. The 10Y Swap increased with 1 basis point to 2.98% compared to previous business day.

In the attachment, today’s market data on money and capital market rates as well as other rates are presented.