BOJ’s Noguchi Calls for Cautious, Gradual Interest Rate Hikes to Sustain Inflation Goals 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Fed Officials Split as Powell Weighs December Interest Rate Cut 
RBA Signals Possible Rate Implications as Inflation Proves More Persistent 
India’s IT Sector Faces Sharp 2025 Valuation Reset as Mid-Caps Outshine Large Players 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Singapore Maintains Steady Monetary Outlook as Positive Output Gap Persists into 2025 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
No Emergency Fed Meeting Today
In contrast to speculation, the Federal Reserve is not holding an emergency meeting today, April 7, 2025. Instead, the Board of Governors is conducting a regularly scheduled closed meeting at 11:30 AM Eastern Time to discuss advance and discount rates imposed by Federal Reserve Banks. The meeting is according to the normal Fed schedule despite volatile markets and President Trump's tariff revelations.
Market Expects Aggressive Rate Cuts
The market is pricing in hopes for more profound monetary policy loosening, as investors are anticipating five interest-rate reductions by the end of 2025. The possibility of an emergency rate reduction in a week also has a 40% chance. This measures strong market expectation of a softer Federal Reserve stance in light of economic uncertainty.
Powell Signals Cautious Approach
Despite market expectations of sharp rate reductions, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled preference to alter rates only when absolutely necessary. The next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, under which potential policy changes are set to be discussed, is on May 6-7. This also suggests a relatively more conservative and data-driven stance by the Fed, which damps expectations of immediate and immediate policy response.
