Moving Markets

Markets are in a positive mood, driven by corporate earnings that are exceeding expectations, and this is despite further 'tariff sabre-rattling' by President Donald Trump, who announced a potential 100% tariff on chips and semiconductors that are not manufactured in the US. Meanwhile, Switzerland has yet to successfully negotiate a reduction in the US tariff of 39%. Yields are slightly higher thi...

With tariffs on Switzerland still in focus, a small Swiss delegation travels to Washington to negotiate a resolution. Meanwhile, emerging tariff threats for semiconductors and pharmaceuticals are weighing on market sentiment. Beyond trade developments, investors must digest a slew of macroeconomic figures and reports from the ongoing earnings season. The US Federal Reserve is also in the spotlight...

European and US stocks staged a recovery rally yesterday, although the Swiss market trailed behind following the recent 39% tariff shock. Meanwhile, yields have fallen sharply across Europe due to robust real money demand. In the US, yields have also dipped slightly, as markets now largely anticipate a 25 basis-point rate cut in September. With a comprehensive update on the current state of the Sw...

President Trump’s team delivered more tariff surprises ahead of the weekend with conditions worsening for both Canada and Switzerland. Then the jobs data delivered some ugly news for the US economy, with severe downward revisions to May and June’s data which saw the bearer of the tidings - the commissioner of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics – lose her job. Added to this, Fed Governor Adriana Kug...

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has tempered expectations that the central bank may cut interest rates at its September meeting, leading to a modest decline in stock prices. However, after the close of trading, both Microsoft and Meta reported strong earnings for Q2, with their shares rising substantially, which could set the stage for a positive trading day ahead. Meanwhile, Tim Gagie, Head o...

European equities rebounded yesterday, driven by largely positive earnings, as the IMF upgraded its global growth forecast for this year and next, citing reduced US trade war impact and a weaker US dollar. Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk makes headlines with a 30% share dive on revised sales and profit guidance, and US equities lose steam ahead of today’s Fed meeting. For more on the earnings season so fa...

The long-awaited trade deal between the EU and the US only provided a temporary boost to the markets, with concerns swiftly being voiced in Europe. Many described the agreement as one-sided, favouring US interests. Following the announcement, the US dollar strengthened while the price of gold plummeted to a three-week low. Meanwhile, oil prices rose, driven by the trade deal and President Trump’s...

The European Union and the United States have reached a significant trade agreement, substantially reducing the likelihood of an all-out trade war. While some details remain unclear, the markets have responded favourably to the announcement. In a related development, Chinese and US officials are set to convene in Stockholm today to discuss easing trade tensions. Markets have a lot to digest this w...

Earnings remain in the spotlight, with notable gains in the banking sector, while Tesla tumbled amid US policy headwinds. The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged and offered a modestly upbeat assessment of the eurozone economy, raising doubts among investors about further policy easing, even while US tariff threats still cloud the outlook. This pushed yields higher and weighed on g...

Global equity markets rally on US-Japan trade deal progress, sparking hopes for EU agreements, with equities surging and gold easing. Japan’s Nikkei 225 reaches a new all-time high, as does the S&P 500. In earnings: Alphabet surprises positively, while Tesla disappoints. Companies reporting today include industry giants like Nestle, Roche, Deutsche Bank, and LVMH. The ECB is not expected to cu...

The current earnings season is proving particularly intriguing, with some companies surpassing analyst expectations and others struggling, particularly due to the impact of US tariffs. On the subject of tariffs, the recently announced US-Japan trade deal has boosted market confidence and fuelled optimism that others, such as the European Union, may also be able to secure similar deals. Meanwhile,...

The US stock market reached new heights, driven by the strong performance of several of the top tech giants, but the broader market failed to follow suit. Meanwhile, government bond yields declined across the board as the deadline for President Trump's trade negotiations, set for 1 August, draws closer. Mathieu Racheter, Head of Equity Strategy Research, offers his insights on the Japanese market...

Japan's Upper House election has sparked market uncertainty after the ruling LDP coalition lost control. Nevertheless, the JPY remained surprisingly stable. The S&P 500 and MSCI World indices reached new heights last week, bolstered by robust economic data and impressive corporate earnings. The US Congress passes legislation regulating stablecoins, thereby giving credibility to the digital ass...

Global stock markets experienced a positive day yesterday, bolstered by impressive earnings reports – including those from ABB – and favourable macroeconomic data from the US. The latter indicated a resilient retail sector, underpinned by a strong US consumer. As a result, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both closed at record highs. In Asia, however, the outlook is more mixed, with attent...

The US President’s comments regarding potentially firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell sparked market volatility. The initial reaction was swift, with the dollar and stocks tumbling, but the market later showed resilience with the S&P 500 rising. Strong US bank earnings and mixed inflation signals added to the complex picture. Global trade tensions weighed on European stocks, with shares of ASML and...

Stocks retreated in response to US inflation data, which met expectations but showed that tariffs have arrived in inflation figures. The earnings season has started with mixed bank earnings dragging down broader equity markets, while the tech heavy Nasdaq reached a record high on gains by chip giant Nvidia. This followed the US decision to ease restrictions on selling AI chips to China. Mathieu Ra...

Stock markets continue to show resilience in the face of the latest US tariff threats and potential countermeasures from trading partners such as the EU. Other significant news yesterday included French President Emmanuel Macron announcing plans to substantially increase defence spending, while the US shifted its stance towards Russia, threatening to introduce secondary sanctions. Overnight in Asi...

Markets take note of the escalating trade tensions, yet their response appears surprisingly subdued. The US dollar has edged upwards, just like global long-term yields, and stock prices have dipped slightly. Investors seem to be adopting a cautious stance, awaiting the ongoing developments and hoping that some political flexibility can be maintained until 1 August. In addition, Richard Tang, Head...

US equities reach another record high as investors downplay tariff concerns, buoyed by a positive forecast from Delta Airlines. Bitcoin soars to a new all-time high, exceeding USD 118,000. European shares see modest gains, with the Swiss market leading the way due to advancements in healthcare, and the UK market rising on the back of strong commodity performance following the announcement of the U...

President Trump delivers more tariff letters and lays down the gauntlet to Brazil – announcing a 50% tariff on their exports into the US. Copper also faces a 50% import tariff. US markets rally on artificial intelligence enthusiasm as Nvidia buoys tech stocks, becoming the first company ever to reach a valuation of USD 4 trillion. Our Chief Economist, David Kohl, provides his thoughts on the lates...

Stock markets remain quiet, shrugging off President Trump's assertive rhetoric on additional tariffs and his stance that no exemptions will be made ahead of the 1st August deadline for reciprocal tariffs. Nevertheless, government bond yields are rising across major markets due to potential inflationary pressures triggered by the tariffs and a broader re-evaluation of risk appetite. To provide insi...

The US sent a flurry of ‘trade letters' to numerous countries yesterday, stating that it will impose steep tariffs from 1 August 2025 unless these countries take steps to open their markets to American products. Meanwhile, US President Trump signed an executive order, delaying the deadline for reciprocal tariffs from this Wednesday to 1 August. The stock market reacted swiftly, with US indices clo...

Investors are seeking protection in more defensive areas of the market as US President Donald Trump ratchets up trade tensions. European and US equity futures plunge alongside Asian shares amidst fresh tariff uncertainty ahead of the Wednesday tariff deadline. However, 1 August appears to be the new deadline, allowing certain countries more time for negotiations. Mensur Pocinci, Head of Technical...

A solid US jobs report sends global stocks higher and US equities to all-time highs. But the devil lies in the detail. A US Federal Reserve rate cut in July is now off the table, pushing US Treasury yields higher and gold lower. What comes next? Investors are already looking to next week when Wednesday’s tariff deadline looms. Trump has intensified trade tensions even ahead of the deadline, saying...

The S&P 500 reached a new high, fuelled by technology stocks. Despite weak US private jobs data, optimism prevailed thanks to a Vietnam trade deal and significant bank dividend increases. However, UK politics sparked fresh concerns, causing the pound and UK domestic equities to decline. Meanwhile, copper prices are surging due to tariff-induced stockpiling in the US – Carsten Menke, Head of Ne...