CHF

ECB officials are leaning toward holding rates in April, opting to wait for clearer evidence on the Iran war’s impact, even as markets continue to price further rate hikes later this year, Bloomberg reports.

IMF says the BOJ can look through Iran war-driven inflation, with limited second-round effects, allowing gradual rate hikes to continue as inflation still converges to the 2% target by 2027.

Fed’s Musalem said oil prices from the Iran war could keep core inflation near 3% this year, likely forcing the Fed to hold rates for longer as supply shocks lift costs and growth slows.

UK expands energy bill relief scheme by 40% to cover 10,000 firms, offering backdated support as high energy costs—worsened by the Iran conflict—continue to pressure key industrial sectors.

US officials warn Iran may take months to yield under a naval blockade, despite Trump saying the war is near an end, with talks stalled and demands on uranium enrichment still far apart.

ECB’s Schnabel said the euro zone is in a favourable position after bringing inflation back to 2% before the Iran war, adding policy is broadly neutral and the ECB can take time to assess whether the shock creates lasting second-round effects.

Economic calendar in Asia Thursday, April 16. Australian jobs, China GDP & eco activity