However, several key segments continued to struggle, including iron and steel (-20.5%), basic chemicals (-11.6%), coffee threshing (-38.5%), and cacao and chocolate (-21.9%). At the same time, retail sales fell 2.5% and industrial employment declined 0.4%, indicating that although production has regained some momentum, both consumer demand and labor market conditions remain under significant pressure in the current economic environment.

While the move is relatively small in absolute terms, the higher yield reflects a slightly firmer pricing of short-term U.S. sovereign risk by investors. Market participants will be watching upcoming bill and note auctions closely to see whether this upward drift in short-term rates continues or stabilizes around current levels.

The updated figure, recorded on 16 April 2026, suggests investors are demanding slightly higher compensation for holding very short-term U.S. government debt. While the change is small, it is closely watched by market participants as 4-week bill yields often serve as a barometer for immediate funding conditions and near-term interest rate expectations in the United States.

In the retail sector, Tesco climbed nearly 4% after reporting robust sales and profit growth, unveiling a £500 million share buyback and widening its full-year guidance despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. Entain rose more than 6% after reaffirming its outlook.

On the downside, EasyJet fell more than 5% following a cautious trading update linked to the Middle East conflict, while Rentokil slipped about 1.3% despite delivering broadly steady results. Defence stocks were also weaker, with Rolls-Royce down more than 2.5% and BAE Systems lower by 1.2%.

In macroeconomic news, official data showed that UK GDP grew by 0.5% in February, significantly above consensus expectations of 0.1%.

The Consumer Expectations Index was unchanged at 26.3%. Households grew more optimistic about their own future, with that sub-index rising to 43.9% from 39.3%. However, views on the country’s economic outlook deteriorated, edging down to 19.7% from 21.3%, while broader expectations for the overall economy fell to 15.4% from 18.3%.

On an annual basis, the CCI showed a substantial improvement: compared with March 2025, when it stood at -7.1%, the index gained 26.4 points.

Still, the Energy Information Administration reported an inventory build of 59 billion cubic feet for the week ended April 10, surpassing market expectations and coming in well above both the year‑earlier increase and the five‑year average. The larger‑than‑expected storage injection was primarily attributed to mild weather that curbed heating demand, and forecasts point to continued warmer‑than‑normal conditions through early May.

The figures are based on year-over-year comparisons, meaning February’s 10.9% gain reflects the change versus February of the previous year, while January’s 7.8% figure measures the change compared with January a year earlier. The sharper growth in February suggests strengthening momentum in consumer demand, signaling improved conditions for Colombia’s retail and consumer-focused businesses at the start of 2026.

The year-on-year comparison shows that the industrial sector has shifted from contraction to modest growth within a month, suggesting a stabilization in production conditions after a weak start to the year. The current 1.4% increase in February reflects how output in that month fared against February of the previous year, while the earlier -0.5% figure captured January’s performance versus January of the prior year.

The latest reading will be closely watched by market participants and policymakers as an early signal of momentum in Colombia’s real economy. A sustained recovery in industrial production would be a supportive indicator for broader economic growth in 2026.

The US has imposed a blockade to curb Iranian shipments, while Tehran has kept the strait closed to most other vessels and has warned it will halt all regional trade if the restrictions continue. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American forces remain prepared to resume combat operations if ordered. The conflict has triggered a major supply shock, pushing up inflationary pressures and weighing on economic growth, although prices have retreated from earlier peaks and still remain well above pre‑war levels.

The 9B increase suggests a strengthening supply position in the U.S. natural gas market. Rising storage levels can help moderate price volatility, especially ahead of periods of higher seasonal demand, and are closely tracked by market participants assessing the balance between production, consumption, and export flows.

Investors and analysts will be watching subsequent reports to see whether this upward trend in storage continues, as sustained increases could influence expectations for future pricing and trading strategies in the natural gas sector.

The data, updated on 16 April 2026, highlight that while Argentina continues to post a positive budget balance, the reduced surplus in March could signal shifting dynamics in revenues, expenditures, or both. Market participants and policymakers are likely to watch upcoming data closely to assess whether this softer surplus is a temporary fluctuation or the start of a broader fiscal trend.

Oil prices extended their advance amid ongoing supply uncertainty, though they remained well below recent peaks. That dynamic limited gains for Petrobras, which rose 0.3%, while simultaneously easing energy‑driven stagflation concerns and supporting the financial sector. Itaú gained 0.5%, and both Bradesco and Banco do Brasil climbed 1%.

In the commodities space, Vale added 1% on the back of higher iron ore prices. On the downside, Ambev fell more than 2% after UBS upgraded its rating on the stock from “sell” to “neutral.”

On the macroeconomic front, the IBC-Br activity index increased 0.6% month-on-month, slightly above the 0.5% consensus forecast, driven primarily by a 1.2% expansion in industrial output.

Oil prices continued to climb on ongoing supply uncertainty, though they remained well below recent highs. Energy shares extended their gains, with Suncor Energy and Canadian Natural Resources each rising nearly 1%. In contrast, major banks such as TD and BMO were little changed, as the easing oil rally helped temper energy-driven stagflation concerns.

At the same time, European buyers—including Germany’s Uniper—are examining long-term LNG supply contracts from Canada’s Pacific coast, shipped via the Panama Canal, as they seek to diversify away from Middle Eastern supply amid tensions with Iran.

Elsewhere, firmer gold prices supported precious metals producers, lifting Agnico Eagle Mines and Franco-Nevada by roughly 0.5%.

Investor attention remained fixed on corporate earnings, amid rising optimism that a potential US–Iran agreement could soon bring the conflict to an end and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Sector gains were led by energy, materials, and real estate, while healthcare and consumer discretionary shares underperformed.

PepsiCo rose 0.3% after posting earnings and revenue that beat expectations, and Bank of New York Mellon climbed 1.3% on strong quarterly results. By contrast, Charles Schwab dropped 3.9% after disappointing results, and Abbott Laboratories fell nearly 4% on weak guidance. Netflix slipped 0.3% ahead of its earnings report later in the day. Performance among megacap stocks was mixed.

The data, updated on 16 April 2026, point to a slight strengthening of economic momentum at the end of the first quarter. While the increase is incremental, the back-to-back monthly gains suggest that underlying activity may be stabilising at a somewhat firmer pace. Market participants and policymakers are likely to watch upcoming releases closely to assess whether this improvement can be sustained in the months ahead.

Nondurable goods manufacturing output edged down 0.1%, with more industry groups registering losses than gains. Only the indexes for petroleum and coal products, plastics and rubber products, and paper rose in March; all other nondurable goods categories recorded declines.