Market Information Wednesday 18 May 2022

The Japanese economy contracted in the first quarter of 2022. This was revealed this morning by preliminary figures from the Japanese government. The gross domestic product (GDP) shrank in the first quarter by 0.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. The decline was smaller than economists had predicted. They took into account a contraction of 0.4%. On an annual basis, GDP fell by 1.0%.

The entrepreneurial confidence in the Netherlands increased in most sectors at the beginning of the second quarter 2022. The sentiment indicator stood at 16.8 and was positive for the fifth quarter in a row. In the first quarter of 2022, the indicator still stood at 6.4. Especially in the hospitality sector a strong increase was visible, after all corona measures in the Netherlands were lifted in February 2022.

Consumer prices in the UK rose further in April. This was revealed this morning by figures from the UK statistics office ONS. On a monthly basis, prices rose by 2.5% in April after a 1.1% plus in March. On an annual basis, consumer prices rose 9.0% in April. That was 7.0% a month earlier.

The 6M Euribor increased with 2 basis points to -0.19% compared to previous business day. The 10Y Swap increased with 8 basis points to 1.77% 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.