A look at the day ahead in European and global markets

Get ahead of the European trading day with Reuters. Subscribe for $1/week.

 

Morning Bid Europe

Morning Bid Europe

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets

By Wayne Cole, Chief Correspondent, Treasury

 
 

Data refreshes every time you open this email. For more European market news, click here. Please send any feedback to morningbid@thomsonreuters.com.

Markets had suspected President Trump wanted to wrap up the war for his birthday, and so it happened.

U.S. and Iranian officials said on Sunday they had agreed on a framework to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but left the thorny fate of Iran's nuclear program to further negotiations.

 

Today's Market News

  • Bailey defends BoE decision to reduce gilt holdings
  • Shares surge, oil slides in Asia on Gulf deal
  • Austrian prosecutors bring new fraud case against Signa founder Benko
  • UK shares clock weekly gains as Iran-US peace deal hopes push oil price lower
  • German government spending only thing preventing GDP fall, Bundesbank says
 

A new dawn?

A drone view shows vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 15, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

The strait is supposed to open fully on Friday when the initial deal is due to be signed. Yet its status was not entirely clear with Trump saying the strait would be toll-free, while Tehran said it would control the vital waterway along with Oman.

Any toll would undermine the freedom of the seas principle of international law, which is essential to global supply chains and the basis for the entire trading system. If Iran can control the strait, who's to say the Strait of Malacca, the Bab el-Mandeb, the Taiwan Strait, the English Channel or even the Strait of Gibraltar might not also be tolled at some point.

It is also not clear whether shipowners will risk their vessels in the strait without protection, or how much insurance might cost. Whether or when transits return to the daily average of 138 seen before the war is an open question. As is the state of oil and liquefied natural gas facilities that have been damaged.

For now, the progress was enough to spark a broad risk-on rally with U.S. and European share futures all up 1% or more. Japanese and South Korean shares jumped more than 5% as a 5% drop in Brent offered relief to the net energy importers.

If sustained, the drop in oil would reduce the risk of inflation and thus the need to hike interest rates. Ten-year Treasury yields fell 6 basis points to a one-month low and Fed fund futures rallied, with 8 basis points of tightening removed for next year.

A woman walks near a stock quotation board showing the Nikkei share average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, June 15, 2026. Picture taken with slow shutter speed. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

 

Rate watching

Cheaper oil might also strengthen the position of the doves on the Fed board, presumably including its Chair Kevin Warsh, who want to keep the easing bias in place. Dropping the bias and shifting to neutral is still a real risk at their meeting this week, going by comments from many of the FOMC members.

Central banks are also due to meet in the UK, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Russia this week, with Japan considered the one likely to lift rates this time.

The Russian meeting on Friday will be closely watched as Governor Elvira Nabiullina has not been seen in public for a couple of weeks, sparking speculation on her future. Analysts credit Nabiullina with keeping the Russian economy afloat through the Ukraine war and her absence would test market faith in the system.

 
 

Key developments that could influence markets on Monday:

  • G7 summit starts in Evian-les-Bains, France
  • Pre-recorded keynote speech by ECB President Christine Lagarde. Appearance by ECB board member Piero Cipollone 
  • EU trade, industrial output for April 
  • US industrial output for May, Empire Manufacturing survey for June
 
 

Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

 

Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. Advertise in this newsletter or on Reuters' website

LiveIntent Logo
AdChoices Logo
 

Morning Bid is sent every weekday morning. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here.

Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here. To manage which newsletters you're signed up for, click here.