Global markets were forced to face three major developments last week, each capable on its own of destabilizing sentiment. Instead of buckling under the weight of legal, monetary, and geopolitical shocks, investors responded with surprising composure. At the end of the week came a landmark legal decision in the US that struck at the core […]
Dollar jumped in early US session after jobless claims came in much stronger than expected, reinforcing signs of labor market resilience. The data added fresh fuel to a rally that had already begun following yesterday’s more hawkish-than-expected FOMC minutes. The greenback’s strength is most visible against European majors with EUR/USD sliding through the near-term low
Risk appetite was strong in Asian markets today, with several centers returning from Lunar New Year holidays and equities advancing. South Korea led the gains, with the Kospi hitting a fresh record high, driven by strength in technology heavyweights like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Japan’s Nikkei also posted notable gains, although it remains below
Trading in Asian markets was subdued at the start of the week, with activity dampened by the U.S. holiday and the approach of Lunar New Year. Many regional desks are already lightly staffed, leaving liquidity thin and conviction limited. The holiday mood has kept volatility compressed. Major currency pairs and crosses are confined within Friday’s
Forex markets remained relatively steady following the January US CPI release, with the slightly softer-than-expected headline reading failing to trigger major repositioning. The moderation in inflation was largely driven by lower energy prices, while underlying pressures showed only gradual improvement. The data did little to materially alter Fed expectations. A March hold is effectively locked
Risk sentiment was mixed in Asia today as Japan returned from holiday with Nikkei extending its post-election surge and briefly breaching the 58,000 mark for the first time on record. The breakout, however, lacked follow-through, with the index quickly trimming gains and hinting that near-term momentum may be stretched. Elsewhere in the region, trading was
Japan dominated the Asian session as markets reacted to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s decisive election victory over the weekend. The scale of the win, which delivered a supermajority in parliament, triggered a powerful relief rally in domestic equities and set the tone for the broader region. Nikkei surged to a fresh record above 57,000 before
After days dominated by fears of an intensified tech rout and structural disruption from artificial intelligence, markets ended the week on a steadier footing. While volatility picked up meaningfully, Friday’s price action made clear that talk of an imminent trend reversal remains premature. Investors responded to midweek stress not by abandoning equities wholesale, but by
Sterling weakened sharply after the dovish read-through from the BoE’s rate hold. Although Bank Rate remained at 3.75%, the narrow 5–4 vote surprised markets and brought forward expectations for another cut. The close split highlighted a policy committee on a knife edge. With nearly half the MPC already favoring easing, investors quickly began to price
Risk-off sentiment intensified in US tech sector overnight, with another down day in the NASDAQ. The move reflected growing unease rather than a single catalyst, as investors continue to reassess the implications of artificial intelligence for earnings, valuations, and capital discipline. That weakness carried into Asia, where Japanese and Korean equities saw steep declines. So
Euro is trading steadily today despite inflation data coming in weaker than expected. The muted market reaction suggests investors are comfortable looking through near-term softness, focusing instead on the broader policy and inflation backdrop. Indeed, recent data point to inflation likely undershooting the ECB’s own forecasts in the near term. That said, medium-term inflation expectations
Forex markets are trading relatively steady as the US session gets underway, with no strong directional conviction emerging. Early risk-on momentum from Asia has faded, leaving major pairs consolidating rather than extending moves. The initial lift in sentiment came from Asia following the announcement of a US–India trade deal, which helped support higher-beta currencies. Australian
Australian Dollar surged broadly in Asia session, drawing fresh strength from a hawkish RBA rate hike that reinforced expectations of further tightening later this year. The move gave the Aussie an extra tailwind on top of an already constructive regional backdrop. Risk appetite in Asia has been firm, with the latest boost to sentiment coming
Last week delivered yet another reminder that volatility has become a feature this year, rather than an exception. Sudden repricing episodes continue to emerge, often driven by political and institutional developments rather than changes in economic fundamentals. The latest bout of turbulence was triggered by market repricing around the nomination of former Fed Governor Kevin
Dollar’s selloff extended through the week, only managing a brief pause after slipping through the key psychological level of 1.2 against Euro briefly. While the pace of decline has slowed, there is little sign of a meaningful recovery taking shape. The bounce has so far been shallow. And, Dollar remains under pressure on multiple fronts,
Dollar remains generally weak as markets move into the early US session, even though outright selling pressure has eased slightly. The slowdown, however, looks more like consolidation than recovery, with the greenback still exposed to fresh political and policy risks. That vulnerability follows an already bruising period marked by renewed transatlantic trade tensions and the
Relentless geopolitics has continued to haunt global markets since the turn of the year, and last week offered little respite. What has changed, however, is not the scale of the headlines but the market’s tolerance for them. Investors appear increasingly fatigued by policy uncertainty and abrupt reversals from the US, where confidence has become harder
