The European Central Bank (ECB) has recently made some changes to its interest rates in an effort to address the recent slowdown in inflation. The deposit rate for banks has been reduced to 3.25 percent, marking the third consecutive cut since summer. Additionally, the refinancing rate has been lowered by 25 basis points to 3.40 percent. These decisions were announced during a meeting held in Slovenia.

The United States, on the other hand, has seen positive economic indicators. Retail sales have exceeded expectations, increasing by 0.4 percent month-over-month, surpassing the anticipated 0.3 percent increase. Furthermore, initial claims for unemployment benefits came in at 241,000, lower than the expected 260,000. This indicates a potentially positive trend in the labor market.

Market analysts are now closely monitoring key psychological levels in the stock market. The DAX index is aiming for the 19,700-point mark, while the 19,500-point threshold is also being watched closely. However, investors are advised to exercise caution due to the potential impact of currency fluctuations on returns.