SINGAPORE: Oil prices eased on Friday while bonds were nursing losses, after global central bankers sounded the alarm on inflation risks stemming from the ongoing war in the Middle East that has sent markets into a tailspin.
Following a hectic week of monetary policy meetings across effectively the Group of Seven (G7) nations and others, the key takeaway for investors has been the prospect of a more aggressive policy path.
Traders are no longer expecting a Federal Reserve rate cut this year, a hike from the Bank of England next month is seen as a coin toss and sources said the European Central Bank may need to begin discussing rate increases in April and possibly tighten policy in June .
"There's a lot of value in the signal," said Vishnu Varathan, Mizuho's head of macro research for Asia ex-Japan, of the hawkish rhetoric from central banks this week.
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