Moving Markets

Today’s main focus will be the first trading day of the newly approved US spot Bitcoin ETFs and the market’s reaction to the release of US inflation figures. Asian shares are seeing their best day since the start of the year on USD weakness, and the EUR is higher as ECB officials caution against interest rate cuts. Carsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research, notes that the muted price reactio...

As global equities continue to struggle, Japanese equities are hitting highs last seen in 1990. US Treasury yields are higher ahead of tomorrow’s US inflation data while investors continue to look for clues as to the state of the US economy and the direction of interest rates. Bitcoin had a volatile evening yesterday following a false report that the US Securities and Exchange Commission had appro...

While a string of economic data prints out of Germany disappoint, big tech made a comeback yesterday, with the Nasdaq Composite posting its best daily return since November. After Swiss inflation remained stable in December, the Swiss franc shows renewed strength and the SMI is one of the few European indices in positive territory year to date. And Mark Matthews, Head of Research Asia, talks to us...

A string of hawkish comments, a rise in inflation rates in Europe and a strong US employment report last week had market participants worried that interest rates were set to stay higher for longer than they had hoped, putting stocks and bonds on course for one of the worst starts to the year in a decade. In China, investors are faced with the shadow banking giant Zhongzhi filing for bankruptcy, ma...

Equities around the world continue to struggle, with US equities set to end the week lower, snapping a nine-week winning streak. This comes as traders increasingly reduce their bets on how quickly and how deeply central banks will cut interest rates. In Asia, investors are speculating that the Bank of Japan will find it difficult to scrap its negative interest rates at a time when the country need...

Equity markets continued to slide yesterday, with most markets posting negative performance for the day. Economic data pointing to some weakness in the US and China, as well as the minutes of the Federal Reserve's December meeting, have been the main talking points over the last few hours. Meanwhile, oil is rising again this morning - Norbert Rücker, Head of Economics & Next Generation Researc...

As part of a special winter series featuring highlights from recent Julius Baer podcasts, today's show features a conversation on Beyond Markets between Gaetano Petrocelli, Head of Wealth Planning Insurance, and Grace Treston, Content Editor about what factors we should consider for good retirement planning. Our regular programme featuring daily market news returns on Thursday 4th January. 00:00 I...

As part of a special winter series featuring highlights from recent Julius Baer podcasts, today's show features a conversation between Carsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research, and Emily Rookwood, Head of Publications on the topic of food inflation and food security. Our regular programme featuring daily market news returns on Thursday 4th January. 00:00 Introduction by Helen Freer (Investm...

As part of a special winter series featuring highlights from recent Julius Baer podcasts, today's show features a conversation about investing in Swiss assets between Helen Freer and Mathieu Racheter, Head of Equity Strategy, along with Dario Messi, a Fixed Income Strategist on Julius Baer’s Beyond Markets series. They talk about the strength of the labour market in Switzerland as well as the curr...

As part of a special winter series featuring highlights from recent Julius Baer podcasts, today's show features a recent conversation about the Chinese market between Hong Hao, Partner and Chief Economist at GROW Investment Group, and China Strategist Richard Tang (Head of Research Hong Kong). Together, they discuss China’s exports and property market.  Our regular programme featuring daily market...

As part of a special winter series featuring highlights from recent Julius Baer podcasts, today's show features a recent conversation on biotechnology between healthcare analyst Fabian Wenner and equity specialist Yaw Shin Wong on the Julius Baer Beyond Markets podcast. Together they talk about the fundamentals of this segment of healthcare, mRNA technology and the number of acquisitions taking pl...

US equities recovered from Wednesday’s sell-off and are now on track for a Santa Claus rally, which refers to the last five trading days of the year. However, the positive mood could be spoilt by two things: the PCE deflator figures due later today, which will provide a fresh indication of where US inflation is heading, and concerns in China as the country cracks down on the mobile gaming industry...

Yields in Europe have come under significant pressure as inflation has collapsed across the board, with the German 10-year benchmark yield now back below 2%. Meanwhile, the relentless rally in equity markets over the past few weeks took a pause yesterday, with traders apparently taking some chips off the table ahead of the long weekend. Carsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research, talks about...

US equities continued to rally yesterday on encouraging economic data prints and Fed officials’ comments, furthering strengthening the narrative for a soft-landing in the US economy. In the UK, core and headline inflation data came in lower than estimated, with the pound sterling falling on the news. And as fixed income markets reflect a growing consensus that central banks have reached the peak o...

Central bank officials continue to push back on aggressive rate cut expectations. While US equity markets are still powering ahead, Europe is looking for direction. Our Chief Economist, David Kohl, talks about the latest central bank decisions and what it means for markets in 2024. And Tim Gagie, Head of FX & PM Solutions Geneva, has a special Christmas gift for us. 00:00 Introduction by Helen...

European and US equities closed last week higher and a few new record highs were reached following a series of central bank decisions to leave rates unchanged. A few Fed speakers then stepped in to curb traders’ enthusiasm over likely rate cuts, causing Asian equites (Korea aside) to stall this morning. US futures however point to a steady day ahead. Mensur Pocinci, Head of Technical Analysis, exp...

After starting the trading day on a strong footing, European markets petered out during the day but still ended in positive territory. European central banks refrain from declaring victory over inflation and stick to their tight monetary policy. Tim Gagie, Head of FX & PM Solutions Geneva, shares his thoughts on what this means for currencies and metals. 00:00 Introduction by Helen Freer (Inve...

After the US Federal Reserve yesterday left interest rates unchanged as expected and signalled interest-rate cuts next year, global stocks gained for a sixth straight session and US Treasury yields plummeted. Today it’s the turn of the European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the Swiss National Bank to announce their latest rate decisions, with expectations for a hold in rates across the boa...

Although US consumer price inflation figures came in slightly higher than expected, equities continued their Santa Claus rally, with the S&P500 Index now trading at highs not seen since January 2022. Dario Messi, Fixed Income Research, talks about this week's key central bank meetings and his expectations for their interest rate decisions. 00:00 Introduction by Bernadette Anderko (Investment W...

Trading has started this week on a subdued note as investors await the US Consumer Price Index figures later today, which will test the market’s optimism for interest rate cuts in 2024. Meanwhile, in Asia, China’s Central Economic Work Conference is expected to conclude today and could shed light on how the country plans to support economic growth. In commodities, copper is making headlines as the...

The world's major central banks meet this week. Apart from Brazil, no rate changes are expected. The focus will therefore be on their forward-looking communication. Germany's DAX index hit a new all-time high on Friday, while better-than-expected US non-farm payroll figures boosted the S&P 500 index. In Asia, China's consumer prices fell by the most in three years in November and the JPY remai...

On a day when we await non-farm payrolls data, ahead of a central bank heavy week, one might have expected muted markets. Instead, the three main US indices broke their three-day losing streak as artificial intelligence (AI) announcements drove equities higher. And India’s election results, combined with their central bank’s decision to keep rates unchanged, boosted their stock markets to record h...

A string of labour-focused data releases in the US has the potential to move markets at the end of this week. Meanwhile in Europe, traders are increasing their bets on monetary policy easing from the European Central Bank and are now pricing in six quarter-point rate cuts in 2024. In Asia, Chinese imports and the auction of a 30-year Japanese government bond both disappointed. In commodities, oil...

Germany's Dax index, arguably the most cyclical market in Europe, closed at a record high after Isabel Schnabel, a prominent official at the European Central Bank, said the slowdown in inflation was ‘remarkable’. Dario Messi, Fixed Income Research, says that the bond rally may have gone a little too far for now, but there is still plenty of value to be found. 00:00 Introduction by Bernadette Ander...

US stock markets slipped yesterday after US factory orders fell by more than expected in October adding to signs that the US economy looks set to slow in the fourth quarter. The latest core inflation data out of Tokyo slowed from the previous month in an encouraging sign that cost pressure in Japan is easing. Manuel Villegas, Next Generation Research, talks about the latest Bitcoin rally and wheth...