Market news: Congo seeks external advice on possible cobalt export restrictions.

IMF Managing Director Georgieva: Inflation is expected to ease further in 2024, creating conditions for interest rate cuts in major developed economies in the second half of the year.

Micron Technology (MU.O) rose 1% after the company said it had not yet resumed full DRAM production but that chip factory activity was resuming in an orderly manner.

AstraZeneca (AZN.O) rose 2.7% after the company announced a 7% increase in its 2024 dividend to $3.10 per share.

Royal Bank of Canada: The Federal Reserve is expected to only cut interest rates by 25 basis points in December, compared with the previous forecast of a 75 basis point cut this year.

ECB President Christine Lagarde: It is gratifying that monetary policy has contributed to the decline in inflation.

ECB President Christine Lagarde: We have observed a decline in inflation and the decline in inflation is progressing smoothly.

The euro rose 0.1% against the U.S. dollar to a daily high of 1.0757.

ECB President Lagarde: Pay close attention to changes in oil prices.

ECB President Lagarde: We will not wait until every inflation measure returns to 2%.

ECB President Lagarde: Services sector inflation remains at a high level.

ECB President Christine Lagarde: The direction of interest rate changes is quite clear, but there is no specific path.

Jiayuan International delayed the publication of its 2023 full-year results announcement and further delayed the publication of its 2023 interim results.

ECB President Christine Lagarde: If the decline in inflation continues, the interest rate path will reflect this.

ECB President Lagarde: The size of the balance sheet has been significantly reduced.

ECB President Lagarde: No comment on exchange rate levels.

ECB President Lagarde: We do not target exchange rates.

ECB President Lagarde: The vast majority of members want to wait until June (to decide whether to cut interest rates).

ECB President Lagarde: No speculation on what other central banks might do.

IMF Managing Director Georgieva: Global growth has strengthened slightly due to strong activity in the United States and emerging market economies.