
USA: small business and trade policy under the gunToday, the attention of market participants in the United States is focused on the publication of the NFIB Small Business Optimism index. This indicator is traditionally considered a leading signal for the state of the domestic economy, especially in the context of consumer demand and entrepreneurs' confidence in the sustainability of macroeconomic conditions. In addition to statistics, investors are closely monitoring possible signals of a softening of the Trump administration's rhetoric on trade issues, as well as potential comments from Fed officials amid rising volatility in currency pairs and stock market assets.Denmark: industrial production under pressureDenmark publishes industrial production data for February. The January indicator showed a record decline of 11.9% seasonally adjusted, which is considered an extreme value even by the standards of the volatile Danish sector. Despite the lack of a clear explanation for the reasons for such a sharp drop, this should not yet be considered as a sign of a systemic weakening of the country's industrial sector. It is expected that the February statistics will help clarify whether the decline was a one-time effect or a signal of a deeper correction.ECB: the market is waiting for hints on policySeveral representatives of the European Central Bank are also speaking today. Against the background of tightening financial conditions, investors will closely analyze the rhetoric of officials for potential changes in the trajectory of interest rates or the level of caution when making new decisions. Any hints of a reassessment of the current monetary strategy may cause a strong reaction in the bond and currency markets.Geopolitics and trade disputes: growing tensionPresident Trump confirmed plans for direct talks with Iran on the nuclear program, but warned of possible "serious consequences" if the dialogue fails. Iran is currently rejecting this format. At the same time, China expressed its determination to introduce new retaliatory measures if the United States implements the threat of a 50% tariff increase. The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China declared its full readiness to "fight to the end," which indicates a serious escalation of the conflict.Market reaction: rumors, volatility, and risk reassessmentYesterday, rumors of a possible 90-day tariff suspension led to a violent intraday rally in the US stock market, although they were later denied by the White House. Despite this, the very fact of the market's reaction demonstrates how sensitive investors are to any sign of a de-escalation of the trade conflict. In turn, the new threat of tariffs from Trump has again caused a wave of concern. The Sentix Eurozone business confidence index dropped sharply from -2.9 to -19.5, reaching its lowest level since October 2023.Scandinavia: budget deficit and fiscal incentivesIn Sweden, the preliminary budget data for March coincided with forecasts, but the cumulative deviation in borrowing amounts to 4.8 billion Swedish kronor. In May, a review of the volume of government bond placements is expected, taking into account new budget incentives, including an increase in defense spending. This creates the prerequisites for an increase in supply on the government debt market.The EU and trade strategy: protecting interests without escalationThe European Commission has proposed a zero-for-zero mechanism for tariffs on manufactured goods as an attempt to avoid a full-scale trade war with the United States. In case of failure of negotiations, the EU is ready to apply retaliatory duties from April 15 to December 1 on a number of American goods. Alcoholic products, including bourbon and wine, were excluded from the list after pressure from individual EU countries. Voting on the list will take place on Wednesday.Stock markets: instability persistsYesterday, the European and Scandinavian markets showed sharp intraday fluctuations: first, growth based on rumors, then a sharp drop after their refutation. The total losses amounted to about 5%, the Stoxx 600 is in the correction zone with a peak drop of -16%. Investors exited all assets, including defensive ones such as telecoms and gold. Against the background of capitulation, expectations in the futures market point to a possible technical rebound of 2%.The American markets proved to be more stable. The S&P 500 index closed with a minimal decline of 0.2%, despite an initial drop of 5%. Investors switched to trading amid rising yields: the real estate and utilities sectors declined, while cyclical securities showed a recovery. In the morning, futures on American indices are up 1-2%.Currency and debt market: yields are rising, the dollar is strengtheningUS bond yields rose sharply: the US Treasury curve shifted upward, and ten-year securities added almost 20 basis points. The DXY dollar index strengthened by 0.5%, while traditional defensive currencies such as the yen weakened slightly. EUR/NOK rose 1.5%, while EUR/DKK reached its highest level since 2020. Brent is trading near USD 65 per barrel. Asian indexes started the day with gains: the Nikkei 225 rose by 6%, while Chinese and Korean markets were also up by 1-2%.The overall market picture remains tense, but the reaction of participants indicates a willingness to receive positive news. In the coming days, the White House's rhetoric on trade issues and its impact on global risk assessment will remain a key factor.