Category: Daily blog

Bonds and stocks slide

Markets took their cue from higher oil prices with bond yields rising sharply and stocks selling off sharply during yesterday’s session. Perhaps with an eye on markets, Donald Trump has announced a ten-day extension to his ‘freeze’ on striking Iran’s power plants, saying talks with the country were going ‘very well’. Notably though, this has […]

Oil prices moving up again

It was a positive day in markets yesterday, with stocks higher and bond yields lower, amid some optimism regarding the chances of a ceasefire in the Middle East and a balanced assessment of the outlook for interest rates by ECB President, Christine Lagarde. However, doubts are emerging about the status of any talks between the […]

Calmer day in markets

It was a reasonably calm day in markets yesterday. Oil prices remained relatively steady and European gas prices edged down a bit further. The main currency pairs traded in fairly narrow ranges with the dollar ending marginally firmer relative to Monday’s closing levels. EURUSD and GBPUSD are currently trading at about $1.16 and $1.34 respectively, […]

Back from the brink for now

Trump’s about-turn (for now anyway) on his threat to strike Iran’s power plants drew a predictable enough response in markets. Oil and gas prices fell, rate hike expectations were pared back, bond yields eased, stocks rallied, and the dollar gave up some ground. The US currency is trading at about $1.16 and $1.34 vis-a-vis the […]

Markets souring

Markets ended the week on a sour note with bonds and equities both selling off on Friday as energy prices remained volatile and expectations for central bank rate hikes hardened further. It is a case of more of the same at the start of this week following Trump’s weekend threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants […]

Rate hike bets ratchet up

As expected, the ECB and Bank of England (BoE) left interest rates unchanged at 2% and 3.75% respectively at yesterday’s meetings. Both said inflation is set to rise in the near-term on account of higher energy prices and warned of upside risks to the inflation outlook further out (with the BoE stating it is “prepared […]

Oil trumps the Fed

The Fed left interest rates unchanged following yesterday’s meeting, as expected, and adopted a ‘wait and see’ stance in relation to the conflict in the Middle East, noting that “in the near term, higher energy prices will push up overall inflation, but it is too soon to know the scope and duration of the potential […]

Some respite for markets

While oil prices remain volatile, they have come down from Monday’s early morning highs. Bond yields have fallen and stocks has risen over the past couple of sessions, while the dollar has given up some of its recent gains. EURUSD and GBPUSD are trading at around $1.1525 and $1.3350 this morning, ahead of the Fed’s […]

Central banks in focus this week

The euro and sterling lost further ground against the dollar on Friday, closing at lows for the week of circa $1.1415 and $1.3230 respectively, the latter also a new low for 2026 to date. They are both marginally firmer this morning though despite a further rise in oil prices, Brent crude now at $106 p/b […]

Brent crude tops $100 a barrel

It was a case of more of the same yesterday really. Oil prices rose further, with Brent crude topping $100 p/b as Iran insisted the Strait of Hormuz must remain “closed”, bond yields were higher, stocks were lower, while the dollar continued its appreciation on FX markets. The latter strengthened by half a percent or […]