Ralf Groenemeyer

"I think that people were amazed to see how the ISM figures were better than expected," said Ralf Groenemeyer, strategist at Commerzbank.

Sentiment was also being boosted by mergers and acquisition (M&A) news.

Ralf Groenemeier, equity strategist at Commerzbank, said US economic data has shown "economic growth is possible without a dramatic increase in inflation", which calmed "massive interest rate fears".

"M&A activity and corporate results are prevailing over macroeconomic weakness," said Commerzbank strategist Ralf Groenemeyer in Frankfurt.

"Volatility in markets might be higher following the weak performance of last week, but it might still not be time to sell in May and go away," he said, adding that equities remained attractive relative to bonds.

"Ahead of the Fed meeting people will take some of the very speculative bets out of the market," Commerzbank strategist Ralf Groenemeyer said.

"M&A activity and corporate results are prevailing over macroeconomic weakness," said Commerzbank strategist Ralf Groenemeyer in Frankfurt.

"M&A activity and corporate results are prevailing over macroeconomic weakness," said Commerzbank strategist Ralf Groenemeyer in Frankfurt.

"Volatility in markets might be higher following the weak performance of last week, but it might still not be time to sell in May and go away," he said.
...
Groenemeyer said broadly strong corporate results during the quarter were driven by a mixture of cost discipline and demand from central Europe and Asia.

"There's a bit of a shift away from the focus on the U.S. economy.That's something that people have underestimated."

He said he preferred equities to bonds.

Ralf Groenemeyer, an analyst at Germany's Commerzbank, said markets are expecting a reform package similar in scope to Schroeder's plans, which were derailed by opposition within his own party.

"It'll be more of the SPD's 'Agenda 2010,' Version 2.0," he said.See story.

Ralf Grönemeyer, Commerzbank AG, Frankfurt am Main