MARKETS GENERALLY REMAIN RANGE BOUND The mood in markets this w eek has primarily been ‘risk-on’ with the majority of equity indices recording gains albeit modest ones. Overall, however, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that markets are generally still range bound as they wait clarification of key issues such as the strength of the economic rebound and whether the recent rise in inflationary pressures w ill indeed prove ‘transitory’ as central banks are insisting. In partic

UK UNEMPLOYMENT The UK's unemployment rate fell to 4.8% in the three months to Marchwhich was better than the market consensus forecast which expected no change at 4.9%. Employment over the same period increased by 84k, above market expectations for a 50k rise. The extension of the government’s furlough scheme to September and the pickup in job creation in response to the rolling back of lockdown restrictions mean that the unemployment rate is predicted to peak at a much lowe

INFLATION CONCERNS ON THE RISE It has been a rocky w eek in markets as concerns that a rise in inflation w ill prompt an earlier-than-expected tightening in monetary policy dominated sentiment. The week began with a further increase in commodity prices led by oil prices. Then, a much higher-than-expected rise in US April consumer price inflation seemed to provide concrete evidence that gains in commodity prices and supply shortages are fuelling price rises. Equities fell shar