Bruno Braizinha

Ceasefire, rates and the US consumer

Ralf Preusser, Bruno Braizinha, Sophia Salim, David Tinsley, Sfia Salim, Bruno Brasenia

Driven by persistent energy supply shocks and uncertain inflation baselines, market analysts project a limited number of European Central Bank rate hikes, with 10-year yields forecast to decline toward 2.9% before falling further to 2.7% by 2027 as growth risks persist. Concurrently, the volatility landscape reflects a regional divergence where European markets lag US levels due to rich pricing, while Asian markets like China demonstrate unique immunity to geopolitical tensions. In the US, consumer spending remains robust at a 3.2% annualized rate fueled by tax refunds and wage growth, creating a K-shaped recovery where higher-income groups drive discretionary gains despite rising gasoline costs.