The strength of US retail sales data, coupled with an unexpectedly high inflation reading for March and robust employment figures, have all contributed to the belief that the Federal Reserve is adopting a cautious stance towards reducing interest rates in the near term.
At the start of 2024, analysts had projected as many as three rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve for 2024. Given the strong retail data and elevated inflation print for March, analysts anticipate that the Federal Reserve may delay rate cuts until July or September instead of June.
Meanwhile, the continued upward trajectory in crude oil prices, with some market experts predicting a rise to $100 per barrel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, is…
