Interest rates are stagnant, companies are losing money, cryptocurrencies are under pressure. The global sentiment reset is hitting investors

Interest rates are stagnant, inflation is slowing down and financial markets are changing moods rapidly. Stock exchanges are giving back profits, cryptocurrencies are panicking, raw materials are undergoing corrections, and the economy is sending increasingly contradictory signals. A week on Bankier.pl charts

1. The Monetary Policy Council did not change interest rates. There is a “pause” in the “non-cycle”

For the second time this year, the Monetary Policy Council took a break and left interest rates unchanged. However, the February decision was not so obvious, but ultimately resulted in maintaining the winter “pause” in the “non-cycle” of monetary policy easing.

2. The ECB keeps rates unchanged. It was 2% and it will still be 2%

The February meeting of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank did not bring any surprises. Interest rates remained unchanged at the lowest levels since fall 2022. Thanks to the decline in HICP inflation, the real interest rate in the Eurozone is above zero.

3. PMI: still no recovery in Polish factories. But producers are rebuilding stocks

The beginning of the year brought continued stagnation in the Polish manufacturing sector – according to the latest PMI reading. At the same time, producers quickly rebuilt their inventories and made optimistic forecasts for future production.

4. They cut despite increased inflation, which accelerated even further. English bankers say stop

The Bank of England kept the interest rate unchanged, in line with market expectations. This decision is hardly surprising, after the increase in inflation in the last reading. However, price increases in the UK are expected to slow down soon, in line with the regulations of the new state budget.

5. The model profitability of the Orlen Group refinery collapsed by 60%. in two months. What's going on with the giant's business?

Orlen's refining business is experiencing consistent erosion of the model refining margin. According to January data, its level was the lowest since March 2025 and meant that it dropped by nearly 60% in two months. For now, this is the end of the extraordinary refinery results and a return to 2024 margins.

6. Bitcoin or gold at a low? It is the state that buys both

El Salvador, which was the first to recognize bitcoin as a legal means of payment, does not forget about the fundamentals. As reported by the Central Bank of El Salvador, it increased its gold reserves by well over a quarter of a ton, building – as it called – a “reasonable balance” in the structure of currency reserves. At the same time, the state still buys one bitcoin per day, in line with its strategy.

7. And another silver crash. What happened this time?

There was a massive drop in silver futures prices. Before analysts quickly came up with some “story”, the white exchange rate managed to make up for half of the losses. However, this still meant a drop of several percent.

8. Fuel prices and the first increases since November. It was to be expected

Gasoline prices rose for the first time since November, rebounding from their lowest levels in four years. And looking at what's happening on the stock markets, it's hard not to expect further price increases at gas pumps. Both petrol and diesel may become more expensive.

9. The automotive monster is bleeding from all sides. Stellantis takes billions in write-offs and suspends its dividend

Friday morning on European stock exchanges brought a real earthquake in the automotive sector. Stellantis's quotations on European stock exchanges fell by several percent. Trading was halted at times as investors, like terrified mice in Victor Frankenstein's laboratory, saw their “automotive monster” bending under the weight of multi-billion write-offs, strategic mistakes and the drastic decision to suspend the dividend.

10. What is happening to the bitcoin price? 50% crash and “extreme fear” in the cryptocurrency market

Bitcoin prices are under strong selling pressure. The world's most important cryptocurrency lost 50% of its value compared to last year's peak, thus erasing all the optimism that prevailed in the market after the US presidential elections.

11. Elections in Japan. Will the Japanese vote for a weaker yen?

This Sunday, Japan will face early general elections to establish its leader, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. But from a market point of view, the Japanese will vote on weakening the yen and continuing the boom on the Tokyo stock exchange.

prepared by WM

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