Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
BOK Expected to Hold Rates at 2.50% as Housing and Currency Pressures Persist 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
RBNZ Cuts Interest Rates Again as Inflation Cools and Recovery Remains Fragile 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
The Norges Bank is expected to hike the sight deposit rate according to plan, i.e. at the meetings on March 21 and September 19 and continue signalling two further hikes per year in 2020-21, according to the latest research report from Danske Bank.
The upcoming board meeting on January 24 is not likely to provide any news. Norges Bank has pointed out that the normalisation of interest rates will be gradual. The cenral bank has so far only hiked the rate once in this cycle, i.e. on 21 September last year.
There seems to be no domestic reasons at present to guide towards anything other than a March hike at the upcoming meeting.
The recent low oil price will affect long-term oil investment levels and the Government’s oil revenue negatively, but the weakness of the NOK more than compensate for the drop in oil prices for Norge Bank’s interest rate path, short-term, the report added.
