Moving Markets

The US Treasury provided a boost to bond and equity markets yesterday, announcing that it will more than double repurchases of 10, 20, and 30-year debt in the next few months. This saw the long bond yield fall 10 bps from its 19-year high on Tuesday, to 5.184%. Gold had its best day since March. US stock markets also closed up on the day with Moderna and Merck providing a boost. Asian equity marke...

A global bond sell-off sent yields to multi-year highs, dragging equities lower as tech stocks bore the brunt amid persistent inflation concerns. Yet Bank of America's fund manager survey reveals remarkably bullish positioning, with investors reducing cash and piling into equities on hopes of a soft landing and faith in the AI boom. Dario Messi, Head of Fixed Income Research, shares his views on t...

Higher oil prices and rising bond yields weighed on equity markets, pushing global stocks lower at the start of the week. US Treasury yields remained in focus as strong corporate bond issuance added to concerns over US fiscal deficits. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence remained a standout theme, with Anthropic's rapid growth boosting sentiment across the sector. Enrico Chinello, Next Generation R...

Global market performance was mixed last week, with Japanese equities emerging as the standout winner, driven by strong gains in technology and semiconductor stocks. Meanwhile, oil prices surged around 6% amid renewed geopolitical tensions, and longer-term government bond yields moved higher despite softer-than-expected signals from US inflation and consumer data. In this episode, we are joined by...

With Korean semiconductor stocks down nearly 50% from their June peak, has the AI correction finally run its course? Where could the next leg of the AI rally come from, and how are China’s cheaper AI models — including DeepSeek’s rumoured new release — reshaping the competitive landscape? Richard Tang, Head of Research Hong Kong at Julius Baer, speaks with Hong Hao, Managing Partner and CIO of Lot...

US equities continued their upward climb this week, supported by a series of encouraging inflation releases, while European stocks have taken a breather after hitting record highs earlier in the week. In fixed income markets, government bond yields moved lower as investors scaled back expectations for rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. Joining us today is Norbert Rücker, Head of Economics &...

The latest US inflation data came in in line with expectations and reinforced the view that the Federal Reserve is likely to keep interest rates unchanged in September. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both finished the day in positive territory yesterday, with technology stocks leading the gains. Earlier in Europe, equities eased as investors balanced earnings releases with ongoing geopol...

Markets struggled for direction yesterday, with investors balancing geopolitical tensions, higher oil prices and a busy corporate news flow. US equities fell for a second straight session as technology shares came under pressure, while European stocks consolidated near record highs and Asian markets traded mixed overnight. With markets searching for direction, the spotlight now shifts to today's U...

Eurozone growth expectations have improved, supported by a strong earnings season. Oil prices rose on renewed Strait of Hormuz tensions, while OPEC output recovered in July. AI investment remained in focus, with Intel raising capital, Nvidia securing funding for AI infrastructure, and regulatory changes supporting additional financing channels. However, this did not support the Nasdaq, which edged...

Markets are starting the week on a strong footing. Softer US jobs data, falling bond yields, robust corporate earnings, and Berkshire Hathaway's return to share buybacks have fuelled optimism among investors. Mensur Pocinci, Head of Technical Analysis, discusses what the latest signals mean for equities, the US dollar, gold, and silver, and why he believes key market trends still have room to run....

Amid rising market volatility and a shift beyond the dominant AI-driven rally, investor interest is turning to hedge funds. In this episode, we examine the appeal of market-neutral, Asia-focused multi-manager hedge funds and how institutional investors are incorporating them into diversified portfolios to pursue resilient outcomes.   William Fong, Head of Alternatives Specialists for Asia and the...

Three themes dominated markets yesterday: earnings, AI and macro risks. Strong results boosted stocks such as Deutsche Telekom and Diageo, while disappointments weighed on several industrial and technology names. AI remained a key driver, supporting China's trade data and attracting strong demand for Alphabet's USD 25 billion bond offering. Meanwhile, Middle East tensions lifted oil prices and bon...

With changing sentiment around Middle East tensions and a busy earnings season driving market moves, the Dow Jones recorded its fifth consecutive gain yesterday and a third straight record close. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both slipped, with the latter weighted down by declines in SpaceX and AMD, while European equities reached a fresh all-time high. Dario Messi, Head of Fixed Incom...

Stocks are breaking records as investors double down on the AI trade. Strong earnings across sectors, easing geopolitical concerns and renewed risk appetite have pushed markets higher, but SpaceX's latest results reveal the growing price tag of the AI revolution. Mathieu Racheter, Head of Equity Strategy, provides more details on the ongoing earnings season, the rotation shaping markets, and where...

Markets were supported by hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East, sending oil prices sharply lower and easing inflation concerns. Investors also digested a rare coordinated yen-buying intervention by Japan and the United States, while strong US manufacturing data pointed to continued resilience in the industrial sector. Equities advanced on both sides of the Atlantic, with the Dow Jones reachin...

After a volatile week, global markets are starting the new trading session on a stronger footing. Investor sentiment improved overnight following reports that renewed US-Iran talks aimed at easing Middle East tensions could begin as early as today, sending oil prices down more than 5%. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen is emerging as one of the day's standout performers, extending its gains against the...

In just one week, the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan all chose to hold interest rates steady, yet none of the decisions were unanimous, and of course, the Fed's new Chair is now steering away from forward guidance altogether. With investors left to navigate rates without the usual signposts, what should they make of this week's decisions, and what comes next? In this...

US stocks staged a rally yesterday following Wednesday’s post-Fed sell-off. Microsoft and semiconductors definitely helped to drive the gains. And the pattern continued in Asia this morning with South Korea’s Kospi up 18% in its session. Central banks in the UK and Japan cemented a week of no moves – although their messaging about the future path of rates diverged. Tim Gagie, Head of FX Advisory i...

Markets reacted sharply after a divided US Federal Reserve opted to leave interest rates unchanged yesterday. The decision triggered a notable steepening of the Treasury yield curve, with 2-year yields edging lower while 30-year yields moved materially higher. US equities also came under pressure, with major stock indices posting significant declines. However, sentiment improved after the closing...

A sharp market rotation took centre stage on Tuesday as investors moved out of chipmakers and into healthcare and financial stocks, pushing both sectors to fresh record highs. Even blockbuster results from AI memory leader SK Hynix failed to ease concerns, extending the sell-off in semiconductor stocks ahead of a crucial week for Big Tech earnings. With the Federal Reserve set to announce its late...

Markets are starting the week on a firmer footing as a pause in Middle East hostilities pushes oil prices lower and eases inflation concerns. The move follows a cautious week for investors, with concerns about AI spending, rising bond yields and escalating geopolitical tensions weighing on sentiment. Most major US equity indices ended the week lower, while European equities proved relatively resil...

As Europe faces increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves, the implications extend far beyond discomfort. The rising temperatures are creating urgent challenges with regard to public health, economic resilience, and urban infrastructure. What does a warmer world mean for the way we live, work, and invest? In this episode, Helen Freer is joined by Dr. Damien Ng, an analyst in Julius Baer’s Next Ge...

Global equities traded lower as oil prices surged in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East, while renewed concerns over AI-related capital expenditure weighed on investor sentiment. Although the European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged, expectations of further policy tightening later this year have strengthened, pushing bond yields higher across major markets. In today's ep...

Oil prices continue to surge as tensions between the US and Iran raise concerns about global energy supplies and economic growth. There were knock-on effects in bond markets with the 10-year US Treasury yield rising to a two-month high. Alphabet and Tesla were the first of the Magnificent 7 stocks to report earnings after the bell yesterday – both stocks fell in extended trading. At the European C...

Markets faced a fresh wave of geopolitical risk as the conflict involving the US, Iran and the Houthis escalated, pushing oil prices higher. Yet equities remained resilient, with positive corporate earnings and strength in semiconductors helping offset investor concerns. Elsewhere, the US announced a 50% tariff on a broad range of Canadian imports, Japan's yen weakened beyond 163 against the dolla...