Optimism with caveats
Global equity markets are once again flirting with record highs, buoyed by renewed optimism that the global economy can achieve a soft landing—and by persistent enthusiasm over the potential productivity gains from AI-related investment. In our charts this week we focus on:
The Fed and interest rate expectations
The global business cycle
Consumer confidence in the US and Europe
Euro area credit conditions
UK manufacturing
Shipping costs and traded goods prices
The skinny
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