Euro News (EUR)

No change of the indicator value may reduce the volatility of the related markets.

Gold emerged as another in-demand asset last year. Global central banks boosted their bullion reserves by over 1,000 tons, a record amount, doubling the annual level seen in the previous decade.

The European Union is ready to make another attempt to reach a free trade agreement with Australia. The parties have been trying to secure the deal since 2018, but now they face a common threat—Donald Trump's aggressive import tariffs, Bloomberg reports.

The European Union believes that trade talks with the US could extend beyond the July 9 deadline set by President Donald Trump. The EU considers reaching an agreement on the principles of the deal by that date to be the best scenario.

ECB Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras compared the unpredictable US trade policy with the balanced approach of the region’s officials. In an interview with Handelsblatt, he also noted the euro’s chances to strengthen because of the weakening dollar.

European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Boris Vujcic believes officials should wait until September before having an in-depth discussion about adjusting interest rates.

Spain's economy expanded by 0.6% in the first quarter, with the second quarter growth expected to reach 0.5–0.6%, according to the country's central bank. Bank of Spain Governor Jose Luis Escriva on Monday revised downward the GDP growth forecast for this year from 2.7% to 2.4%.

The German research group Sentix has recorded a significant improvement in the eurozone investor sentiment. The index rose to 0.2 points in June from -8.1 points in May, exceeding analysts' forecasts of -6.0 points.

French Budget Minister Amelie de Montchalin said the country must "put its finances in order." Otherwise, oversight bodies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European institutions could intervene and take measures to stabilize the region's financial situation, she stated.

Barclays analysts expect the ECB to continue cutting borrowing costs in the second half of the year. Despite ECB President Christine Lagarde's suggestions that the monetary easing cycle might be nearing its end, strategists anticipate 25 basis-point rate cuts in both September and December.