Bank of England Expected to Hold Interest Rates at 3.75% as Inflation Remains Elevated 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rate at 2.25% Amid Trade and Global Uncertainty 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
MAS Holds Monetary Policy Steady as Strong Growth Raises Inflation Risks 
ECB’s Cipollone Backs Digital Euro as Europe Pushes for Payment System Independence 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
BTC Flat at $89,300 Despite $1.02B ETF Exodus — Buy the Dip Toward $107K? 
RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
At the 2025 ECB Forum in Sintra, global central bankers tackled how monetary policy must adapt to rising geopolitical tensions and structural economic changes. Under the theme “Adapting to change: macroeconomic shifts and policy responses,” key discussions focused on labour market rigidity, trade fragmentation, and growing inflation pressures.
Trade geopolitics dominated much of the dialogue. As globalization gives way to resilience-focused strategies, Europe faces intensified competition from China. China’s push for domestic production—especially in tech and innovation—has reduced demand for European exports. UBS Global Research noted Europe’s heavy reliance on “geopolitically distant” suppliers, including China, increases exposure to supply disruptions and inflation volatility.
These shifts complicate central banks’ efforts to balance inflation control with economic growth. Reshoring and diversification strategies may enhance resilience but raise long-term costs.
Europe’s labour markets were also scrutinized. Although often considered rigid, Eurozone unemployment was just 6.3% in May—near historic lows. UBS analysts said immigration has bolstered job creation, and some forum participants argued that limited funding for start-ups is a bigger structural issue than labour laws.
Divergent inflation and wage dynamics across Eurozone countries further complicate monetary responses. In 2022, inflation gaps reached 18.6 percentage points between countries like Estonia and France. These disparities make unified policy tools—like the ECB’s Transmission Protection Instrument—less effective, prompting calls for stronger fiscal and structural measures.
The forum also addressed the rise of non-bank financial intermediaries (NBFIs). While participants supported tighter EU regulation, they opposed granting NBFIs direct access to ECB funding due to risks to traditional banks.
ECB Vice-President Luis de Guindos warned against excessive euro appreciation, while President Christine Lagarde stressed that exchange rates will inform future projections. Closing the forum, Lagarde emphasized the ECB's updated strategy aims to maintain price stability amid evolving global shocks.
