Market Information Wednesday 24 April 2024

U.S. business activity cooled to a four-month low in April amid weaker demand across manufacturing and services sector. The lower activity contributes to a slight easing in inflation.

Business activity in the Eurozone expanded rapidly in April, led by a strong recovery in the service sector which offset declines in manufacturing. According to a PMI survey the growth was particularly noticeable in Germany and France, the two largest economies in the zone. Despite the mixed results in manufacturing, overall economic optimism remained high and employment growth reached its highest rate since June of the previous year.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is expects to approve a rule banning noncompete agreements, which are often required for workers across various sectors, on the grounds that these agreements restrict employee mobility and suppress wages. This move, seen as a measure to enhance worker flexibility and potentially boost wages by nearly $300 billion annually, has faced strong opposition from major business groups that argue ‘noncompetes’ protect trade secrets and promote competitiveness.

The 6M Euribor is unchanged at 3.85% compared to previous business day. The 10Y Swap increased with 2 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.