Market Information Friday 19 April 2024

Brussels recently expressed concern about potential negative consequences of telecom mergers for competition and consumer interests. The European Commission emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy competition in the telecom sector as a driver of innovation and ensuring alternatives for consumers. These developments come at a crucial time as telecom companies in Europe are considering mergers and acquisitions as a strategy to strengthen their market position and gain a competitive advantage.

Data reported by Statistics Netherlands revealed that unemployment in the Netherlands decreased in March. The number of unemployed individuals stood at 371,000 last month, compared to 379,000 the previous month. As a result, the unemployment rate decreased from 3.7 percent in February to 3.6 percent in March, matching the percentage from January.

In the United States, the number of new applications for unemployment benefits remained stable in the week ending April 13, according to data from the US Department of Labor. The number of new claims was steady at 212,000, in line with analysts’ expectations, who had predicted a level of 215,000. The four-week moving average also remained stable at 214,500, indicating ongoing stability in the labor market. However, the number of continued claims for benefits increased to 1,812,000 in the week ending April 6, up by 2,000 compared to the previous week, which could fuel concerns about economic resilience.

The 6M Euribor is unchanged at 3.84% compared to previous business day. The 10Y Swap increased with 4 basis points to 2.81% 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.