Recent data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics indicates an unexpected jump in inflation, now at 2.1% as of March 2025. This notable rise surpasses the European Central Bank’s 2% target for the first time in a year and a half. While analysts had estimated a rate around 1.8%, the actual results surprised many, highlighting the intensifying inflationary pressures in the nation. 

The CEO of UniCredit, Andrea Orcel, has recently announced the bank's initiative to align with the European Central Bank's (ECB) requirements on reducing its Russian business operations, even exceeding some of their expectations. This move highlights the European banking sector's ongoing challenge of balancing compliance with local and international obligations.

In recent years, the banking sector in the European Union has witnessed significant changes. One prominent example is Banco Santander SA, which has become the first bank in the EU in nearly a decade to surpass a capitalization of 100 billion euros. This milestone underscores the growing interest of investors in the European banking sector.

On Thursday, the Japanese yen significantly strengthened its position in the international currency market. This occurred against the backdrop of anticipated interest rate hikes in Japan, while other regions are experiencing rate cuts.