globaleconomy

European stock markets remained largely unchanged on Tuesday as cautious investors monitored ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and China in London, amid growing concerns about critical mineral supplies.
🔹 The Stoxx 600 index remained flat with no significant movement.

🔹 The UK’s FTSE 100 rose slightly by 0.4%.

🔹 Germany’s DAX slipped by 0.2%.

🔹 France’s CAC 40 recorded a modest gain.
Despite these muted figures, investors adopted a clear wait-and-see approach. The atmosphere was clouded by trade tensions and uncertainty surrounding rare earth supplies essential for defense industries.

Defense Sector Under Pressure Due to China’s Restrictions
Shares in aerospace and defense fell for the third day in a row, with the Stoxx Aerospace and Defense index down 0.8%. The pressure follows China’s April decision to restrict exports of rare earths in retaliation to U.S. tariffs — a move that directly affects Europe’s manufacturing and military sectors.

UK Labor Market Weakens, Gilt Yields Fall
Investor anxiety wasn't limited to global trade. UK government bonds — known as gilts — saw a broad price increase following disappointing labor market data released Tuesday morning.
The Office for National Statistics reported average wage growth of 5.3%, below the 5.5% forecast by Reuters. Additionally, job vacancies fell by 7.9% over the three months ending in April compared to the previous quarter. This cooling job market supports speculation that the Bank of England may soon consider easing its monetary policy.
📉 Bond yields reacted swiftly:

🔹 10-year gilt yields dropped by 7 basis points.

🔹 5-year and 2-year yields also fell by 6–7 basis points.

🔹 30-year yields slipped by 6 points.
As bond prices rise, yields fall — a clear indication of growing investor demand for safer assets amid market caution.

Gold Edges Up, Industrial Metals and Japanese Yen Decline
In the commodities market, gold edged higher, reaching $3,333.89 per ounce by 08:18 GMT after briefly falling below $3,302. Futures for U.S. gold held firm at $3,354.70. Investors are turning to the safe haven asset ahead of key U.S. inflation data expected this week, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate move.
⚠️ Other precious metals didn’t fare as well:

🔹 Silver dropped 0.6% to $36.51, though it remains near a 13-year high.

🔹 Platinum fell 1.1% to $1,206.42, after recently hitting a three-year peak.

🔹 Palladium declined by 1% to $1,063.22.
These moves reflected a broader sense of caution across equity and bond markets in Europe.

Japanese Yen Falls After Cautious BOJ Comments
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda signaled that the central bank is not yet ready to raise interest rates. “Our short-term rate is at 0.5%, and our room to stimulate the economy when facing strong downward pressures is very limited,” Ueda stated.
Markets reacted quickly — the yen weakened from 144.69 to 145.29 against the U.S. dollar before recovering slightly. Although Ueda downplayed the possibility of rate cuts, he hinted at potential economic support, which traders interpreted as a signal that rate hikes are off the table for now.
Despite having the highest inflation in the G7, Japan still maintains the lowest interest rate. Reports also surfaced suggesting the Japanese Ministry of Finance may limit issuance of super-long-term bonds — and even consider buying some back — further weighing on the yen.

Conclusion: Markets on Edge as Investors Await Clarity
Across Europe, Asia, and the U.S., caution rules the day. With geopolitical tensions, economic slowdowns, and central bank uncertainty all in play, investors are treading carefully. Markets await the next clear signal — whether from trade deals, political decisions, or macroeconomic data.

#stockmarket , #Eu , #market , #TradeTensions , #globaleconomy

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