Softer U.S. labor market conditions against the backdrop of trade-policy uncertainty have prompted Barclays to raise its expectations to two rate cuts by the Federal Reserve for the year from one.

Barclays has lowered its expectations; now, it thinks the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates twice this year instead of once. This is due to unclear trade policy and the weakening U.S. job market.

The Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady through the first half of the year, before delivering two reductions beginning in September, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Barclays now expects the U.S. Federal Reserve to deliver two quarter-point interest rate cuts in June and September, the Wall Street brokerage said on Thursday, citing softer labor market conditions amid tariff uncertainty.