Fundamental Analysis

Oil Declines as Inventory Surge Overshadows Demand Optimism

Oil prices fell on Wednesday as a surge in inventories overshadowed demand optimism and supply concerns. However, there was little volatility as US markets were closed for a holiday.  According to American Petroleum Institute figures, crude inventories rose by 2.264 million barrels last week. Meanwhile, economists had expected stocks to fall by 2.2 million barrels. Read More…

Market Overview

Recent Updates in Financial Markets – June 2024

Federal Reserve and Monetary Policy The Federal Reserve has maintained its policy rate at 5.25%-5.5%, with potential rate cuts anticipated in the latter half of 2024. This cautious stance is driven by mixed economic signals and the need to monitor inflation trends closely. While there has been some moderation in inflation, core inflation, particularly in Read More…

Fundamental Analysis

Gold Prices Climb as Weak US Data Spurs Rate Cut Speculation

Gold prices rose on Tuesday after poor US economic data raised the likelihood of a rate cut in September and weighed on the US dollar. However, the move was subdued because the market is awaiting more significant data. US retail sales (Source: US Census Bureau) Data on Tuesday showed that US sales barely rose in Read More…

Technical Analysis

Russell 2000 Futures lag S&P 500, NASDAQ

What is leading the underperformance? The Russell 2000 is less weighted in technology stocks compared to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Large-cap tech stocks have driven much of the recent market gains, benefiting indices heavily weighted in these sectors. Small-cap stocks, which dominate the Russell 2000, are more susceptible to economic uncertainties too. In contrast, Read More…

Fundamental Analysis

Equities Soar as S&P 500 and Nasdaq Break Records Amid AI Optimism

Equities soared on Monday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq reaching record highs. This increase came from technology stocks, which rallied on AI optimism. At the same time, investors were awaiting more clues from policymakers and economic data on the outlook for US rate cuts.  S&P 500 index (Source: Bloomberg) Shares of major technology Read More…