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Shift in 'forward guidance' was not discussed on Thursday, ECB chief Draghi says
European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi left the door open to further policy easing, sending the euro slightly lower, albeit while noting that the balance of risks had moved towards a "more balanced configuration".
ECB policy decision - Analysts react
"In June we expect a change to a less dovish and more symmetric forward guidance that would open the door for depo rate hikes in 2018. In particular, we would expect modifications possibly to both the forward guidance on rates and on QE by removing the explicit reference in the statement to a scenario with lower rates and/or higher QE. " - Philippe Gudin, Antonio Garcia Pascual, Barclays Research.
Bonds: GIlts pushed higher by cautious ECB, underwhelming US tax cut plans
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields: US: 2. 30% (-1bp)UK: 1. 06% (-2bp)Germany: 0. 30% (-6bp)France: 0. 83% (-6bp)Spain: 1. 63% (-7bp)Italy: 2. 24% (-7bp) Portugal: 3. 46% (-11bp)Greece: 6. 38% (-3bp) Japan: 0. 02% (+1bp).
Europe close: ECB pours cold water on expectations of policy shift
European stocks declined for the first time in seven days despite the European Central Bank sounding a more confident note on the single currency bloc's economy.
Sector movers: Oil majors act as drag on market as Brent futures slip
Oil stocks and Cyclicals weighed on the market as news flowed in that Libya's main oilfield, Sharara, with a production capacity of 300,000 barrels a day, had come back online after an armed group that was protesting by blocking its pipelines stopped doing so.
US open: Stocks edge higher despite doubts over Trump tax plans
Stocks managed to hold onto slight gains at the open as investors continued to mull over the White House's tax cut plans announced the night before amid a barrage of largely as expected economic data.
Brent futures drop after as Libya's Sharara oilfield comes back online
Crude oil futures dropped following a report that a key oilfield in Libya had restarted production.
Orders for US durable goods edge past forecasts in April
Orders for goods made to last more than three years edged past forecasts on the back of stronger demand for military aircraft.
Analysts divided on Trump tax cut proposals
Economists were optimistic that some form of tax relief would pass Congress in 2017, despite the lack of detail in the White House's proposals announced overnight.
ECB keeps all rates on hold, leaves door open to further easing
The European Central Bank kept all its policy interest rates unchanged, reiterating that rates might yet go lower still and that quantitative easing could be extended beyond the current scheduled end-date of December 2017, if necessary.
Barclays raises target price on Ibstock
Analysts at Barclays sounded a positive note on Ibstock following the full placement of Bain Capital's share, raising their target price on the stock.
German consumer confidence strengthens more than forecast in May
Germans were in more buoyant spirits in April amid significant increases in income expectations and for the economy with further improvement expected, the results of a widely-followed survey showed.
Tourism boosts Spanish consumer prices for April
Spanish consumer prices rose past forecasts in April, pushed higher by tourism prices as a result of the Easter holidays and a higher cost of electricity versus a year ago.
Europe open: Stocks slip lower ahead of ECB
Markets slipped at the start of the session after the White House's tax cut proposals released overnight underwhelmed analysts, with investors also playing it safe ahead of the European Central Bank's policy meeting later in the day.
London pre-open: Stocks to start lower with analysts divided on Trump tax-cut proposals
Trading is set to start on a soft note after some analysts were left feeling underwhelmed by the tax cut proposals which were announced by the White House on Wednesday night.