The Ibex 35 seeks to consolidate its growth in an optimistic European market.

The European stock market continues to show signs of stability and optimism, with the Ibex 35, the main index of the Spanish stock market, seeking to consolidate its position above the 11,100-point barrier. In today's pre-opening, the Spanish selective index recorded a slight increase of 0.1%, while the Euro Stoxx rose by 0.16%. Benchmark indices in other major eurozone economies also exhibited positive behavior, with the German DAX up by 0.1% and the French CAC increasing by 0.12%. However, the British FTSE experienced a slight decline of 0.1%. This momentum in the market reflects the strong performance of the Ibex 35, which on Monday achieved a notable increase of 1.40%, marking its seventh consecutive session of gains and reaching 11,102.50 points. This surge has been partly driven by optimism surrounding the monetary policies of central banks, which are the focus of a week that promises to be intense on an economic level. With a calendar full of events, investors are preparing to analyze the decisions and statements that could influence the markets. The People's Bank of China has been one of the first to set the tone by maintaining its benchmark interest rate at 3.35% for the second consecutive month, aligning with analysts' expectations following the surprising cut in July. This decision is significant as it reflects China's concern for maintaining economic growth amid an uncertain global environment. European investors are attentive to how these decisions may influence capital flows and regional economic stability. The latter part of the week will focus on the meeting of central bankers taking place in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, an annual event organized by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. This gathering brings together some of the leading economists and monetary policy makers globally, and this year’s central theme is “Reevaluating the effectiveness and transmission of monetary policy.” This focus suggests a critical reflection on the tools used by central banks in recent years and their effectiveness in the current economic situation. The event will run from August 22 to 24, but investors will concentrate their attention on the speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, scheduled for Friday. His remarks will be of utmost importance, as they could offer clues about the future direction of U.S. monetary policy, especially regarding the potential interest rate cut anticipated for the meeting on September 18, where a reduction of 25 basis points is expected. Nevertheless, analysts emphasize that decisions on interest rates will continue to depend on macroeconomic data, highlighting the relevance of the upcoming U.S. employment report, due on September 6. This report will provide critical information about the health of the U.S. labor market and, in turn, will influence the Federal Reserve's decisions. Meanwhile, attention in the United States is not limited solely to economic aspects. The Democratic Convention, which began yesterday in Chicago, is also in the spotlight. It is expected that during this convention, Kamala Harris will be nominated as the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, an event that could have significant repercussions on the political and economic landscape of the country. On the other hand, the coming days will also bring the release of the minutes from the last meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB) and a crucial data point: wage negotiations in the European Union. These elements are key to understanding the possible future actions of the ECB, which closely monitors the evolution of wages and their impact on inflation and economic growth. In conclusion, the Spanish and European stock markets face a high-expectation scenario, where the decisions of central banks will play a fundamental role. Both the Ibex 35 and other benchmark indices are in a phase of analysis and anticipation, as investors await clear signals to guide their decisions in a changing and uncertain environment. Next week promises to be crucial, not only for the Spanish economy but also for the global context that increasingly interconnected markets.