Today, investors focus on the Bank of Canada meeting and the FOMC decision

As of Tuesday, the Dow Jones Index (US30) fell by 0.46%. The S&P 500 Index (US500) declined by 0.30%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Index (US100) closed lower by 0.21%. The three major US indexes ended Tuesday in the red as mixed corporate earnings reports and caution ahead of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision weighed on investor sentiment. Weak results from UnitedHealth (-7.5%), Boeing (-4.4%), and Merck (-1.7%) dragged the market down, while United Parcel Service and Whirlpool also slumped more than 10% following disappointing earnings and expectations. Investors also reacted to a decline in job openings and hiring in June, although consumer confidence in July came in higher than expected. Meanwhile, trade talks between the US and China ended without a final agreement, leaving hopes alive for an extension of the current tariff truce.

The Fed is expected to leave interest rates unchanged today, but markets are closely watching for signals on the future direction of policy amid signs of slowing inflation.

The Bank of Canada will also hold its policy meeting today. It is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 2.75%, but the tone of the statement and the follow-up press conference will be key for markets. Recent data points to economic weakness: GDP is expected to contract for the third consecutive month, increasing the likelihood of a rate cut by year-end. With slowing inflation and weakening domestic demand, the Bank of Canada may lean toward a more dovish outlook.

The IMF expects global economic growth at 3.0% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, slightly above its April 2025 projections. The upgrade — by 0.2 percentage points for 2025 and 0.1 percentage points for 2026 — reflects stronger-than-expected economic activity, lower-than-expected US tariff rates, improved financial conditions (partly due to a weaker US dollar), and expanded fiscal policies in several major economies. Despite the slightly improved outlook, the IMF warns that risks remain tilted to the downside. Growth projections for key economies include the US at 1.9% in 2025 and 2.0% in 2026, the Eurozone at 1.0% and 1.2%, and the UK at 1.2% and 1.4%. China’s growth was revised upward to 4.8% and 4.2%, while Japan is expected to grow at a more modest pace of 0.7% and 0.5%.

European stock markets mostly rose yesterday. Germany’s DAX (DE40) gained 1.03%, France’s CAC 40 (FR40) closed up 0.72%, Spain’s IBEX35 (ES35) rose by 0.90%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 (UK100) ended up 0.60%. The FTSE 100 climbed over 0.5% to a new record high, supported by strong corporate earnings and improved sentiment around the UK economy. Shares of AstraZeneca jumped 3.5% following strong Q2 results, driven by high cancer drug sales and reaffirmed guidance. Barclays also rose by 2.5% despite a mixed earnings report, as its investment banking division posted solid results, benefiting from market volatility. Optimism was further boosted by the IMF’s projection that the UK’s economic growth this year and next will outpace other major European economies.

WTI crude oil prices rose by 3.7% to close at $69.20 per barrel on Tuesday, reaching a five-week high and extending Monday’s 2.4% gain, as easing trade tensions and rising geopolitical risks fueled supply concerns. Additional support came from former President Trump, who increased pressure on Russia by setting a shorter deadline for progress in ending the war in Ukraine and threatening new sanctions.

Asian markets traded mixed yesterday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) fell by 0.79%, China’s FTSE China A50 (CHA50) rose by 0.01%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index (HK50) declined by 0.15%, while Australia’s ASX 200 (AU200) posted a modest gain of 0.08%.

The Australian dollar rose above the $0.651 level on Wednesday, snapping a four-day losing streak, as a weaker US dollar outweighed weak domestic inflation data. In Australia, consumer prices rose at the slowest pace in over four years in Q2: the headline CPI was 0.7% quarter-over-quarter and 2.1% year-over-year, while core inflation fell to a three-year low of 2.7% year-over-year. Both figures came in below expectations and within the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2–3% target range. The soft inflation data strengthened expectations for policy easing, with markets now fully pricing in a 25-basis-point rate cut at the RBA’s August meeting.