SECURITY: Trump-Putin Call May Determine If US Pursues New Russia Sanctions 1/2
May-19 09:52
US President Donald Trump will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin at 10:00 ET 15:00 BST. Trump is also expected to hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The calls are likely to determine if Washington joins the EU in new punitive sanctions on Russia.
- Trump’s negotiator Steve Witkoff told ABC yesterday: “The president is determined to get something done here … If he can’t do it, then nobody can.”
- The call comes after the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since 2022 failed to deliver significant progress toward a ceasefire, in Istanbul on Friday. A Ukrainian official told AP the Russian delegation "deliberately wants to throw nonstarters on the table in order to walk away...”
- Yesterday, Kyiv reported that Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war. Putin told state television reporter Pavel Rubin: “We have enough forces and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical ending, with the result necessary for Russia,”
- TASS reports that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday that Russia will prepare and deliver a list of ceasefire conditions to Ukraine, adding that an in-person meeting between Putin and Trump is “certainly necessary.”
- Russia’s lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said during talks with Ukraine in Istanbul that Russia is willing to continue fighting “however long it takes” to win, adding that "Russia fought Sweden for 21 years. How long are you ready to fight?” per The Economist.
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LOOK AHEAD: Eurozone Timeline of Key Events (Times BST)
Apr-18 05:18
| Date | Time | Country | Event |
| 25-Apr | 0745 | FR | Manufacturing Sentiment |
| 29-Apr | 0700 | DE | GFK Consumer Climate |
| 29-Apr | 0800 | ES | HICP (p) / GDP |
| 29-Apr | 0900 | EU | M3 / Consumer Expectations Survey |
| 29-Apr | 0900 | IT | ISTAT Confidence Indices |
| 29-Apr | 1000 | EU | Consumer Confidence, Industrial Sentiment |
| 30-Apr | 0630 | FR | GDP (p) / Consumer Spending |
| 30-Apr | 0700 | DE | Import/Export Prices / Retail Sales |
| 30-Apr | 0745 | FR | HICP (p) / PPI |
| 30-Apr | 0855 | DE | Unemployment |
| 30-Apr | 0900 | DE | GDP (p) / State level CPI |
| 30-Apr | 0900 | IT | GDP (p) |
| 30-Apr | 1000 | EU | GDP preliminary flash est. |
| 30-Apr | 1000 | IT | HICP (p) |
| 30-Apr | 1100 | IT | PPI |
| 30-Apr | 1300 | DE | HICP (p) |
JGBS: Twist-Steepener Holds Going Into W/E, BoJ Gov Ueda Reiterates Caution
Apr-18 05:16
JGB futures are stronger, +18 compared to settlement levels, sitting near the middle of the range after a choppy session.
- “Governor Kazuo Ueda reiterates his stance that the central bank will carefully monitor if its economic outlook will be realized, accounting for the effects of US tariff measures, without preconception. The BoJ will raise the benchmark rate if the outlook is realized, Ueda says in response to questions in parliament.” (per BBG)
- “Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Co. plans to invest in Japan's super-long government bonds this fiscal year after their yields skyrocketed. The company aims to increase domestic government bond holdings by ¥30 billion, with gross purchases potentially reaching ¥300-400 billion.” (per BBG)
- Earlier today, Headline CPI for March showed +3.6% y/y versus +3.7% estimate. Core and Core-Core printed +3.2% y/y and +2.9% y/y, respectively, versus estimates of +3.2% and +2.9% and priors +3.0% and +2.6%.
- Cash US tsys are closed today for the Good Friday holiday.
- Cash JGBs have twist-steepened, pivoting at the 20-year, with yields 2bps lower to 5bps higher.
- Swap rates are 2bps lower to 2bps higher, with a steepening bias.
- On Monday, the local calendar will see Tokyo Condominiums for Sale data.
CHINA: Bond Futures Marginally Up Despite Liquidity Injection.
Apr-18 04:02
- China’s bond market reacted very little to a second day of sizeable liquidity injection.
- China’s 10YR bond future is up just +0.03 at 109.04 and remains firmly above all major moving averages. The nearest being the 20-day EMA at 108.61.
- The 2YR bond future is down -0.02 at 102.46; remaining below all major moving averages – the nearest being the 20 day EMA at 102.52.
- The 10YR CGB is marginally lower in yield at 1.64%
