Market Watch

Wall Street barely flinched this week, even as US strikes on Iran pushed oil higher and rattled the Strait of Hormuz. Tim Mulholland of TJM Limited in Chicago thinks that calm deserves scrutiny. He walks us through what the latest US economic data reveals beneath the surface, where the smart money is rotating as geopolitical risk builds, and why the sliding Japanese yen — now at multi-decade lows...

The US Federal Reserve's minutes for its June meeting has been released indicating that the central bank remains divided over the future path of interest rates, with policymakers split between the possibility of cuts and further hikes. Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Mizuho Bank, shares his insights into how this will also dictate the trajectory of currencies. Image Credit: Shut...

Global airlines continue to benefit from resilient travel demand, but surging fuel prices, supply chain disruptions, and aircraft delivery delays are putting growing pressure on profitability. While some carriers are adapting through fare increases, fuel hedging, and network changes, others face tougher operating conditions as geopolitical tensions reshape global aviation. Can the industry continu...

Global markets are entering a new phase as investors weigh diverging economic and policy trends across major economies. Japan is grappling with mixed domestic data and a weakening yen, while Europe's equity markets have surged to record highs, outpacing the United States amid improving growth expectations and lower energy prices. As central banks chart different paths and oil prices continue to ea...

There appears to have been a rotation back into tech, AI and semiconductor stocks, leading the Dow Jones to hit a new record again. Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist at US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management, shares his insights into how the markets are moving plus an outlook into where crude oil prices may be heading. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

The Dow Jones closed last week at record highs; in contrast the S&P 500 and Nasdaq have been in a consolidation pattern for the past month. What are the factors driving this divergence? We discuss this and other market trends with Dilin Wu of Pepperstone. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global markets are sending mixed signals, with US blue chips pushing to new highs even as technology stocks lose momentum. Investors are also weighing a resilient US labour market, signs of stronger manufacturing activity in China, falling oil prices, and renewed interest in gold as expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts evolve. As leadership shifts across sectors and regions, where are the be...

Investors are weighing a mixed picture for the US economy, with manufacturing continuing to expand, inflation remaining a concern, and markets searching for fresh direction after recent volatility. While technology shares are attempting to stabilise and consumer-facing sectors such as airlines continue to outperform, attention is also turning to Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's evolving policy...

The Japanese yen has weakened to its lowest level since 1986 against the US dollar, despite signs of strength elsewhere in the economy. What's the threshold for intervention by the Bank of Japan and what does this mean for monetary policy moving forward? We discuss this and other Asian economic trends with Carlos Casanova of UBP.  Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

US markets have steadied after a bout of volatility, helped by easing geopolitical tensions and lower oil prices. As investors look to the second half of the year, attention is shifting from macro risks back to corporate earnings, with growing divergence emerging within the technology sector and renewed interest in cyclical industries. Is the market entering a broader phase of leadership, or will...

As oil prices retreat to pre-Iran war levels, a vital question emerges: Are markets accurately pricing the reality of crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz, or has bearish sentiment overshot? Between the wild swings in Korean memory chip stocks and the deeply depressed Japanese Yen, where do the markets fundamentals actually lie? We speak to Kingsley Jones, Chief Investment Officer at Jevons Gl...

US inflation has climbed to its highest level in three years, yet markets have remained remarkably resilient. Strong economic data, easing oil prices, and renewed optimism around AI have helped support investor sentiment, even as expectations grow that the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates higher for longer. Is the market correctly pricing the risks ahead, or are investors becoming too com...

Spot gold is now trading at its lowest in a year while Brent crude oil futures have gone back to Feb 27 levels, the day before the US and Israel attacked Iran. Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Mizuho Bank, lays out the current scenario and its impact on interest rates and currencies. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The overnight global sell-off in tech and AI stocks has reignited questions about the longevity of the AI-led bull run. Are these early signs that the bubble is bursting? We discuss market trends with David Chow of Azure Capital. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Fed Chair Kevin Warsh in his first meeting gave hawkish signals as to the interest rate trajectory, but is a hike imminent? Joseph Sroka of NovaPoint Capital weighs in on the potential scenarios at play and what investors should consider in the AI tech space. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Falling oil prices and easing tensions in the Middle East have reduced fears that the global economy could slide into stagflation. Yet investors still face major questions around the outlook for growth, inflation, interest rates, and the strength of the US dollar under new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh. As markets reassess the path forward, are we entering a more stable phase for the global ec...

Markets have welcomed the signing of the US-Iran peace agreement, with investors rotating back into risk assets as concerns over energy supplies and geopolitical disruption ease. The focus is now shifting back to economic fundamentals, including the outlook for interest rates, Federal Reserve policy, and the health of the US labour market. As investors reassess whether the post-conflict rally can...

Asian markets have regained momentum after easing tensions in the Middle East helped drive oil prices lower and improve investor sentiment. At the same time, strong export data from Singapore, continued strength in South Korea's semiconductor sector, and resilient earnings in Japan are reinforcing the region's growth outlook. As investors shift their focus back to fundamentals, where are the best...

Markets are reassessing the outlook after the Federal Reserve held rates steady and signs emerged of a possible peace agreement between the United States and Iran. Lower oil prices and easing geopolitical tensions have improved sentiment, but investors are also weighing the implications of the first policy signals from new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. As attention shifts back to growth, inflation, and i...

Global markets have rallied after reports of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, easing concerns over energy supplies and helping drive a renewed risk-on mood across equities. With the Strait of Hormuz expected to reopen, oil prices have retreated, gasoline costs are falling, and investors are reassessing which sectors stand to benefit most from a more stable geopolitical environ...

Global markets were positive at the end of last week on the back of the SpaceX IPO and signals of an imminent US-Iran ceasefire deal. Have the markets fully priced in the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, or does the rally have legs? We discuss the market outlook with Kingsley Jones of Jevons Global. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The likelihood of a solution to the war in Iran sparked a rebound in the markets, led by tech stocks that have been sold off in the past few sessions. Tim Mulholland, President at TJM Limited, talks about the underlying economic data that will still guide central banks' interest rate decisions in the coming weeks. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indonesia’s central bank has delivered its first off-cycle interest rate hike in eight years after the rupiah fell to record lows against the US dollar. The move follows a series of interventions and comes amid growing pressure from global volatility, higher energy prices, and concerns over domestic economic policy. With policymakers now prioritising currency stability, investors are asking whethe...

World markets ended in the deep red with the selloff on semiconductor, tech and AI plays continuing. Consumer price results from the US also indicate that inflation remains an issue for the interest rate outlook, while the Iran war appears to have escalated. Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy at Mizuho Bank, helps us make sense of these developments. Image Credit: Shutterstock See o...

The 1Q2026 earnings season has now wrapped, and while the period is traditionally softer due to festive holidays, this quarter saw an even more compressed business calendar with both Chinese New Year and Hari Raya falling within the reporting period. Jeremy Goh, Head of Research, Hong Leong Investment Bank, shares his insights into this. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for p...