Key Points:
- The International Monetary Fund sees growth at 2.8% in 2023 and 3.0% for 2024, this is down slightly on January’s forecast. Global growth is seen at 3.0% in 2028, this is the worst mid-term forecast since 1990.
- North Korea have launched another ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan
- Post US CPI release Goldman Sachs doesn’t expect a hike in May but nothing at the June meeting, previously they had forecast rises at both meetings.
- ECB’s Villeroy says they have a long way to go hiking rates with a 50-point hike in May forecast.
- Bank of Canada holds their cash rate at 4.50% as widely expected.
- Fed warns of recession chances last in 2023.
- Ukraine has launched an investigation over a gruesome video showing a Ukraine soldier being beheaded.
- The Euro (EUR) has been the strongest currency in April thus far with the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) the weakest.