Overnight, European bourses improved ahead of Sunday’s French election, with the French CAC 40 closing up +1.2%. At the same time, US indices posted fresh all-time highs in a shortened session ahead of Independence Day. US bond yields fell after weaker-than-expected economic data reinforced the case for the Fed to start cutting rates this year as “bad news remains good news“ for equities – the data showed the US services sector contracted at the fastest pace in four years. The S&P 500 has added more than $16 trillion in value from a closing low in October 2022, thanks to solid earnings, the spectacular surge in artificial intelligence and expectations that interest rates will drop.