Global week ahead: Banking bellwethers and a tariffs waiting game

Jul 20, 2025 | Business

Skyscrapers on the skyline from the offices of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. 
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Next week, the CNBC teams are back on the road – and it’s all about the banks and the ECB. From Frankfurt to Milan, and Paris to London, the financials are in focus.

Banking bellwethers

The markets seem to be banking on the financial sector to keep up the positive earnings momentum this quarter. Citi described the first quarter as “remarkably resilient,” with analysts now expecting Stoxx 600

Much of that optimism is centered on the big banks, while other sectors like luxury, autos and energy have been plagued by earnings downgrades.

UnicreditCommerzbankBanco BPM

French financial BNP Paribas

Last quarter, the bank soared past expectations driven by performance at its investment bank, but revised its profitability target slightly lower.

On the same day, attention will turn to Frankfurt for Deutsche Bank’s

The waiting game

For macro-watchers, the highlight of the week in Europe will come from the European Central Bank. President Christine Lagarde and her fellow policymakers are expected to keep rates on hold at 2% on Thursday. But there is a BIG catch…

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats are not expected to derail this meeting’s outcome, according to Reuters, citing five ECB governing council member sources. But if Trump does push ahead with 30% tariffs on EU imports, there is a broad assumption the ECB will cut rates in response.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House on July 15, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Investors will have until Sept. 11 to assess the impact, as the ECB breaks for the summer after this week’s meeting.

Inflation situation

In terms of the underlying economic conditions, Deutsche Bank warns that European inflation risks are “still being underestimated, with a remarkable complacency across key assets,” with the tariff impact yet to fully trickle through.

The bank’s macro strategist also told CNBC’s Squawk Box Europe that the Aug. 1 tariff deadline for negotiations between the U.S. and EU sets the stage for a late outcome to trigger a “very sharp market reaction.”

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