Jenni Reid

French lawmakers will debate and vote on the no-confidence motions filed against the government of Michel Barnier on Wednesday.

French lawmakers will debate and vote on the no-confidence motions filed against the government of Michel Barnier on Wednesday.

Key Points French lawmakers will hold a vote of no-confidence in the fragile minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Wednesday which is expected to pass.

Key Points The European Central Bank is widely expected to deliver a 25-basis-point rate cut on Thursday, rather than a "jumbo" 50-basis-point move previously thought to be on the table.

It appears unlikely that a 0.5 percentage-point rate cut could be in store, despite headline inflation having settled near the ECB's 2% target.

The European Central Bank struck a dovish tone last week, backed up by comments from arch-hawk Robert Holzmann on Friday.

LONDON — U.K. inflation rose to 2.6% in November, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday, marking the second straight monthly increase in the headline figure.

Economists widely expected a rate hold at the December meeting, as policymakers remain concerned with stubborn services inflation and wage growth.

"Trump tariff proposals and a more hawkish Fed add to the downside risk for gold... But we expect non-traditional factors to be stronger," one economist said.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday told the European Union it must reduce its trade gap with the U.S. through oil and gas purchases or face tariffs.