<h1>Global markets mixed as investors await central bank guidance; minutes show inflation risks, tariffs and AI tech volatility weigh</h1> Global equity markets traded mixed as investors awaited guidance from the central bank at an upcoming policy forum; minutes from the prior meeting indicated policymakers prioritized inflation risk over employment, supporting a hold on interest rates. The administration's tariff increases were identified as a material upward inflationary risk affecting manufacturing and exports, with weaker-than-expected US jobs data potentially recalibrating policy risk. Market volatility concentrated in major technology stocks tied to artificial intelligence, raising regulatory and market-concentration scrutiny risks for those sectors. Currency, energy and regional manufacturing indicators reinforced exposures to trade and monetary policy developments.