Market Update

The U.S. dollar weakened in European trading on Monday after U.S. prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, a development that has reignited concerns over the independence of the world’s most powerful central bank. By 04:25 ET (09:25 GMT), the Dollar Index — which measures the …

U.S. stock index futures fell sharply on Monday, as investors grappled with mounting uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s independence after the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony regarding cost overruns on a $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed’s Washington headquarters. By 05:50 ET 10:50 GMT, …

Gold prices surged to a new all-time high in Asian trading on Monday, as a potent mix of geopolitical turmoil, political uncertainty in Washington, and softer U.S. labor data sent investors rushing into safe-haven assets. Spot gold climbed as much as 2% to a record peak of $4,601.17 an ounce, …

Bitcoin edged higher in Asian trade on Monday, holding close to last week’s levels as risk appetite remained fragile amid rising tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and the Federal Reserve. Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and caution ahead of key U.S. economic data releases this week also kept investors on edge. …

European equities opened the new week on a cautious footing on Monday, with investors keeping a close watch on escalating unrest in Iran and fresh political pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. By 03:05 ET (08:05 GMT), Germany’s DAX was trading largely flat, France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.2%, and …

Oil prices held largely steady in Asian trading on Monday, as markets balanced the growing risk of supply disruptions from escalating unrest in Iran against the prospect of additional barrels returning from Venezuela. Brent crude futures for March delivery edged up 0.1% to $63.39 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas …

The first trading week of 2026 did not begin like any conventional year; instead, it was packed with momentous events that defined the economic and political trends for the coming period. From the start of the month through January 9th, financial markets faced a “triangle” of pivotal developments: US military …

Mixed Jobs Data Lifts the Dollar, but Concerns Linger: The U.S. dollar rebounded on Friday after employment data showed a mixed picture, with uneven trends in job creation, unemployment, and wage growth. While the figures provided short-term support for the currency, they failed to fully dispel broader concerns about the …

U.S. stock indexes rose as investors digested mixed employment data, with job growth slowing slightly while unemployment edged lower. The market remains sensitive to upcoming economic indicators and corporate earnings.Bank Earnings Kick OffNext week marks the start of earnings season for major banks, with JPMorgan Chase reporting first. These results …

Richmond Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin commented on the U.S. labor market, highlighting a steady overall picture but noting that hiring remains concentrated in specific sectors such as healthcare and AI. While unemployment has declined, the broader job market shows limited expansion beyond these areas. Key Observations The drop in …