Goldman Sachs note that limited detail within the composition of last week’s Eurozone GDP data makes it “difficult to distinguish genuine strength from trade-related distortions, but the lack of a clear deterioration further reduces the tail of near-term easing”.
- Elsewhere, they note that “rates volatility continues to fall, consistent with a relatively narrow range of surveyed expectations on outcomes for growth, inflation, and policy - see for instance the latest ECB SMA. And even if the ECB remains on hold from here, there is additional policy space that can help buffer macro shocks and thus volatility”.
- Still, Goldman think that “with the easing cycle now most likely over, and macro valuations of implied volatility somewhat stretched, further volatility declines are unlikely. The decline in EUR rates volatility has been a tailwind for sovereign spread compression, lower front-end rates and curve steepeners. The loss of this tailwind suggests a shift in risk reward for these and other carry strategies”.