Market Update

U.S. initial jobless claims climbed more than expected last week, breaking from the prior week’s sharp drop to a three-year low and offering a slightly softer signal on labor market momentum ahead of the next Federal Reserve decision window. First-time applications for state unemployment benefits rose to 236,000 in the …

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has revised its medium-term oil outlook, projecting a slightly tighter market in 2026 than previously anticipated, as stronger demand collides with a softer pace of supply growth. In its latest monthly report, the Paris-based agency lifted its global oil demand forecasts for both 2025 and …

Oil prices rose in Asian trading on Thursday after the United States seized a sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela, raising concerns about potential supply disruptions, while a drop in U.S. crude inventories added further support. As of 21:38 ET (02:38 GMT): Brent (Feb) rose 0.4% to $62.44 per barrel WTI …

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) kept interest rates unchanged at 0%, in line with expectations.Market attention now turns to Chairman Martin Schlegel’s press conference at 09:00 GMT, where investors will be seeking clearer guidance on the path of monetary policy. Key Highlights from the SNB Monetary Policy Statement Interest Rate …

European shares traded lower on Thursday, as a selloff in technology stocks—triggered by a downbeat forecast from U.S. cloud firm Oracle—offset investor relief over the Federal Reserve’s policy signals, which were less hawkish than feared. The STOXX 600 slipped 0.3% to 576.78 by 08:09 GMT, with major regional indices in …

Bitcoin slipped on Thursday, giving back mid-week gains as investors reacted to a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut that was overshadowed by a surprisingly cautious policy outlook and deep divisions among Fed officials, tempering expectations for meaningful monetary easing in 2026. The world’s largest cryptocurrency last traded 2.5% lower at …

Australia’s central bank kept its benchmark cash rate unchanged at 3.60% on Tuesday, in line with market expectations, while cautioning that inflation risks have shifted to the upside. Concluding its two-day policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said it needed more time to assess the persistence of price …

Gold prices declined in Asian trading on Thursday as markets absorbed the Federal Reserve’s latest policy signals, while silver eased after briefly touching a new all-time high earlier in the session. Metal markets were mixed overall. Although the Fed cut interest rates as expected and announced a major liquidity-boosting plan, …

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a calm and measured message on Wednesday, working to cool market expectations for continued monetary easing. He emphasized that the U.S. economy is “in a good place” and that current interest rates sit within a “reasonable range” close to the neutral level that balances …

The Dow Jones Industrial Average powered higher on Wednesday, rising more than 1.2% after the Federal Reserve announced its third consecutive interest-rate cut. The move instantly boosted market sentiment, pushing the Dow toward four-week highs as investors grew more confident that additional easing could follow in the coming months.The Fed’s …