Moving Markets

President Trump halted strikes on Iran yesterday and announced that a peace deal will be signed imminently. Markets reacted accordingly, with oil prices falling and equities rallying. Chip stocks contributed to the rally in both the US and Asia overnight. Even US Treasuries held on to their gains, as markets lowered their bets on a Fed rate hike in October from 51% to 36%. SpaceX raised USD 75 bil...

While European markets proved more resilient, US equities declined amid renewed escalation in the Middle East and fresh inflation data highlighting mounting pressure on US household budgets, driven in part by higher energy costs. In today’s episode, Carsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research, shares his outlook on gold and silver in this environment. We also hear from Dario Messi, Head of Fix...

Markets saw a cautious session yesterday, as investors remained on edge amid ongoing Middle East uncertainty, with both European and US equities ending broadly lower. Overnight, tensions escalated sharply, with US strikes on Iran followed by retaliatory actions across the Gulf, placing further strain on an already fragile ceasefire. Despite these developments, oil prices remained relatively contai...

European equities closed off their lows as oil reversed most of its early 5% gain after easing Middle East tensions, leaving Brent near USD 94. Weak German factory orders weighed on sentiment, while stocks diverged, with Zealand Pharma down 23% and Banca Monte dei Paschi up 13% on takeover news. In the US, technology led gains as chip stocks rebounded, though sentiment softened after Apple’s devel...

The market reaction to Friday’s better-than-expected US jobs report started bad and got worse. The Nasdaq closed down 4.2%, marking its steepest decline since April 2025, following ‘Liberation Day’. The sell-off spread to Asia this morning, where investors slammed the brakes on the red-hot AI rally. South Korea’s KOSPI fell by more than 8%, triggering circuit breakers. Mensur Pocinci, Head of Tech...

The role of a Chief Investment Officer is multifaceted – acting as both the guardian and the architect of a company’s investment process, and preventing people from making mistakes that might destroy value. A key requisite for the job is the ability to stay calm amid the panic when a global crisis hits. In this special edition of The View Beyond, produced jointly with the World Economic Forum's Ra...

Markets delivered a mixed session yesterday, driven by geopolitical tensions, a sharp semiconductor sell-off following Broadcom’s disappointing results, and steady macro data from Switzerland and the US. Oil remained driven by developments in the Middle East, while gold fluctuated alongside moves in the dollar and bond yields. European equities closed higher despite lingering uncertainty, while th...

The S&P 500 snapped its nine-day winning streak yesterday, as renewed tensions in the Middle East dented risk sentiment, and momentum in the AI-driven rally eased. At the same time, bond yields pushed higher on the back of resilient labour market data, reigniting concerns that inflation pressures may persist. In today’s episode, our Group CIO Yves Bonzon shares his latest perspectives on the m...

AI fever is fuelling a fresh wave of market excitement, with soaring valuations and high-profile endorsements pointing to the next potential trillion-dollar tech company. With major players doubling down on artificial intelligence, investor confidence remains resilient despite rising eurozone inflation and mounting expectations of another ECB rate hike. Meanwhile, Afonso Borges from our Fixed Inco...

Markets were mixed yesterday, with Middle East tensions driving a sharp rise in oil and weighing on sentiment. European equities edged lower, while all three major US indices reached fresh highs, supported by strong momentum in AI-linked names. Macro data showed a divided backdrop — resilient manufacturing in Asia, slowing growth and rising cost pressures in the Eurozone, modest but improving tren...

US equity indices closed the week at new record highs, topping off a winning month as tech stocks once again provided the momentum. Despite no agreement emerging between the US and Iran, and indeed continued strikes over the weekend, many of Asia’s key indices also saw gains this morning with the Kospi and Nikkei 225 soaring to new heights. It’s therefore timely that Mensur Pocinci, Head of Techni...

After a period of relative calm, gold has re-emerged as a focal point for investors amid geopolitics, shifting central bank strategies, and evolving global demand. How should investors interpret gold’s recent volatility, and what does the outlook hold as we move through 2026? In this episode of Julius Baer’s Moving Markets:The View Beyond, Ayako Lehmann is joined by Carsten Menke, Head of Next Gen...

US equities surged to record highs on optimism over a potential US–Iran ceasefire extension, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Russell 2000 all closing at all-time highs yesterday. Oil prices fell sharply and are on track for their steepest monthly decline since March 2020. US economic data was mixed, pointing to slowing growth and increasing pressure on household finances. Technology remained the...

Oil prices are swinging on every twist in the Middle East, while AI continues to dominate global markets. Europe’s stocks are under pressure from high energy costs, but in the US, AI momentum is driving major indices to fresh record highs. In today’s episode, Carsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research, dives into copper, and why electrification is set to shape markets for years to come. (00:0...

Global equities extended their record rally as momentum in technology shares accelerated and geopolitical tensions eased. Micron and SK Hynix have joined the USD 1 trillion market-capitalisation club, fuelled by surging demand for AI chips. This milestone underscores the growing dominance of semiconductor companies in global markets, with ripple effects from Seoul to Silicon Valley. Mensur Pocinci...

Despite US consumer confidence falling to a record low, the S&P 500 extended gains last week, driven by semiconductors, as AI enthusiasm remains strong and crowded. Global equities also advanced, led by Europe and Japan. Kevin Warsh was sworn in as Fed Chair, while Governor Waller emphasised inflation risks. Middle East tensions remain volatile, with shifting ceasefire prospects, US military a...

The petrodollar system has long been a cornerstone of global finance, underpinning the US dollar’s dominance for decades. But as energy markets shift, and talk of de-dollarisation grows louder, is this system now fading? And what could that mean for the future global order? In this episode of The View Beyond, Jan Bopp is joined by Julius Baer’s currency strategist, David Meier, and Norbert Rücker,...

Markets remained choppy as weak PMI data across Europe and the UK signalled slowing growth, while US data painted a mixed but still resilient picture. Oil prices were volatile amid shifting headlines around Iran, underlining ongoing geopolitical sensitivity. Equities in both Europe and the US ended modestly higher despite intraday swings, with pockets of strength in sectors like satellites and qua...

European and US stock markets rallied yesterday after President Trump hinted that the US administration is in the final stages of an agreement to end the war with Iran. The 10-year US Treasury shaved 9 basis points off the previous session’s yield. Asian markets were further boosted overnight by an impressive set of results from NVIDIA. Warnings did come in from the Fed though, in the form of the...

US markets dipped amid rising long-term bond yields, with the 30-year Treasury hitting the highest level in almost two decades fuelled by inflation fears and potential Fed tightening. Geopolitical tensions and key upcoming catalysts, including Nvidia’s earnings and FOMC minutes, keep investors on edge. Dario Messi, Head of Fixed Income Research, explains what is behind the recent surge in bond yie...

Global equities are caught between hopes for a peace deal and rising Middle East tensions, with Brent fluctuating around USD 100 per barrel. In the US, strong market breadth contrasts with weakness in technology stocks, weighing on major equity indices. Japan and Switzerland posted stronger-than-expected Q1 growth, highlighting resilience despite geopolitical tensions and high oil prices. Carsten...

Global markets are kicking off the week on the back foot as government bond yields surge to multi-year highs, reigniting concerns about stagflation. Oil prices climbed another 2% overnight, with no quick resolution in sight for the ongoing Middle East tensions. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Mensur Pocinci, Head of Technical Analysis, who shares his outlook on whether US 10-year Treasury yiel...

Despite geopolitical tensions, US equity markets have reached record highs, with artificial intelligence at the heart of this surge. What is driving these historic moves? How are investors positioning themselves to both capture the opportunities and manage the risks?  In this episode of The View Beyond, Bernadette Anderko is joined by Carsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research at Julius Baer,...

Markets were driven by headlines from the Trump–Xi summit in Beijing, where progress on trade and a surprise easing of US chip export restrictions to major Chinese tech firms lifted sentiment, particularly in technology. European equities closed higher and US indices reached fresh record highs, supported by strong earnings from Cisco, although gains in Asia faded as rising Treasury yields and rene...

Markets showed a broad risk-off tone on Tuesday, with equities weaker and bond yields moving higher. Oil prices surged as hopes for a US–Iran deal faded, stoking inflation concerns after stronger-than-expected US inflation data. Dario Messi, Head of Fixed Income Research, explains the implications for bond markets and shares his view on UK gilts amid ongoing political turmoil. And Nenad Dinic, Equ...