Weekly Market Round Up: Global Markets Steady Amid Mixed Signals: Key Takeaways from April 14-19, 2025
- GordonGekko
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
Markets navigated a cautious path between optimism and uncertainty during the week of April 14-19, 2025. Investors balanced earnings reports, economic data, and ongoing geopolitical concerns, leading to a broadly stable yet selective risk appetite across global markets.
1. US Earnings Season Kicks Off Wall Street focused on corporate earnings, with major banks reporting better-than-expected results, driven by strong loan growth and higher interest margins. However, tech stocks saw volatility ahead of key reports next week, as investors remain wary of stretched valuations.
2. Fed Officials Signal Patience Comments from Federal Reserve officials reinforced expectations that interest rate cuts are unlikely in the near term. Inflation data remained sticky, prompting the Fed to maintain its cautious stance, which kept Treasury yields elevated and the US dollar firm.
3. China’s Q1 GDP Surprises on the Upside China reported Q1 GDP growth of 5.2%, beating expectations. The data boosted sentiment in Asian markets, particularly in sectors tied to commodities and industrials. However, concerns linger over the sustainability of this recovery without stronger domestic consumption.
4. Oil Prices Stabilize After Recent Surge Brent crude hovered around USD 90 per barrel as supply concerns from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East were offset by weaker-than-expected US inventory draws. Energy stocks remained resilient, while airlines and transport sectors faced renewed cost pressures.
5. Emerging Market Currencies Hold Firm Despite a strong US dollar, most emerging market currencies, including the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) and Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), showed resilience. Supportive central bank actions and improved trade balances helped stabilize FX markets in Asia.
6. European Markets Eye ECB Moves European equities ended the week slightly higher as investors speculated on potential rate cuts by the European Central Bank later this year. Inflation in the Eurozone showed signs of easing, fueling expectations of a more accommodative stance.
7. Crypto Market Sees Profit-Taking Bitcoin retreated below USD 65,000 after recent highs, as traders locked in gains amid regulatory headlines. The broader crypto market followed suit, though long-term sentiment remains positive ahead of anticipated ETF approvals.
