Bond markets poised for further monetary easing

The European, UK and US central banks are all scheduled to hold monetary policy meetings this week, with markets poised for signs of further monetary easing to boost bond prices. The US Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee meets on 6 May, to decide whether to cut the Fed Funds rate, currently at 1.25%, for the first time since November 2002. The meeting follows the release of US consumer confidence figures for April, which recorded the largest monthly gain in 12 years on the back of an end to conflict in Iraq. Late last month, Fed board member J Alfred Broaddus said the US economy ...