Equities had a mixed start to the week, with the S&P 500 rising while the Nasdaq fell. Nevertheless, stocks ended higher last week as risk appetite improved on easing trade tensions between China and the US. At the same time, better-than-expected earnings boosted investor sentiment. Nasdaq-100 index daily performance (Source: Bloomberg) Trading was thin on Read More…
Currency futures extended last week’s decline as the dollar ended its first week of gains in a while. The US dollar strengthened as trade tensions between China and the US began to fade. As a result, risk appetite improved, and demand for safe-haven currencies, such as the yen and the Swiss franc, decreased. At the Read More…
Interest futures extended gains on Friday as sentiment improved amid hopes of a trade deal between China and the US. The likelihood of lower tariffs hurts Treasury yields, boosting interest futures. Meanwhile, market participants are awaiting the release of US inflation and employment figures next week. US 30-year yields (Source: Bloomberg) Interest futures have had Read More…
Oil paused its decline on Thursday as sentiment improved on a likely trade deal between the US and China. At the same time, risk appetite improved after Trump stopped his attacks on Fed Chair Powell. However, prices fell over 2% in the previous session on reports that OPEC+ might increase output in June. The US Read More…
Gold extended Tuesday’s decline as risk appetite improved after the US Treasury Secretary’s comments on the US-China trade war. Market participants now expect a de-escalation in the trade war, which is bearish for gold. At the same time, Trump halted his attacks on Fed Chair Powell, further improving investors’ sentiment. Spot gold (Source: Bloomberg) Gold Read More…
Equities collapsed on Monday as more uncertainty rocked investors. Trump’s recent attack on the Federal Reserve has raised concerns about the independence of the institution. Meanwhile, the ongoing trade war with China has increased the likelihood of a rapid economic slowdown in the US. As a result, investors are rushing to safer markets. On Friday, Read More…
Currency futures rallied on Monday as the dollar weakened, with investors losing confidence in the US economy. The move followed reports that Trump plans to shake up the Fed and likely fire Powell, which would further cloud the outlook for the US economy. Dollar spot index (Source: Bloomberg) The dollar resumed its decline on Friday Read More…
Oil extended gains after the US imposed sanctions on Iranian oil imports. Moreover, prices are poised for a weekly gain amid concerns about supply. However, concerns about demand stemming from Trump’s tariff decisions are curbing gains. Oil futures (Source: ICE, Nymex) Trump imposed sanctions on Iran on Wednesday, targeting, in part, Chinese oil imports from Read More…
Gold prices hit a record high of over $3,300 on Wednesday amid growing trade tensions between China and the US. Investors continued buying the safe-haven metal to protect against the risk of a US recession. Meanwhile, recent US inflation data piled pressure on the Fed to lower borrowing costs, further supporting gold prices. Spot gold Read More…
Equities rose on Monday, extending gains from the previous week after Trump exempted some tech goods from import tariffs. At the same time, a solid start to the first quarter earnings season boosted stocks. However, risk appetite remains low as the trade war between China and the US continues. S&P 500 volatility (Source: Bloomberg) The Read More…
