Market Update

Amid a looming new sanctions package, the US Treasury Department’s new move would prohibit Russia from using funds held in American banks to pay debt obligations. The Treasury Department on Monday prohibited Russia from withdrawing funds held in American banks to pay its debt obligations, a major escalation aimed at …

Wall Street’s main indexes fell on Tuesday, dragged by weakness in tech and other growth stocks, after comments from Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard spooked investors about potential aggressive actions by the central bank to control inflation.The S&P 500 posted 42 new 52-week highs and 6 new lows; the Nasdaq …

San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly explained that the labour market is extremely tight while the Fed is on a path to raising interest rates. She added inflation is as harmful as not having a job while many of the imbalances we see are covid-related. Key Quotes:”I don’t expect a …

Gold has pulled back from earlier highs and is back in the $1920s territory as the US dollar/US yields rally. Fed Vice Chair Brainard was hawkish on balance sheet reduction, sparking the reversal lower.Markets focus now on Wednesday’s FOMC minutes release as gold bears eye a test of recent sub-$1900 …

Deputy chief of staff and adviser to Ukrainian president Ihor Zhovkva said on Tuesday that there will be no compromise from Ukraine on ceding territory to Russia, reported Bloomberg. Zhovkva continued that any meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be “difficult”, before noting that …

The headline ISM Services PMI figure rose to 58.3 in March from 56.5 the month before, a tad lower than the expected rise to 58.4, according to the latest release from the Institute of Supply Management. Subindices: Business Activity rose slightly to 55.5 from 55.1 in February. Prices Paid rose …

Fed Vice Chairwoman Lael Brainard said on Tuesday that the Fed is prepared to take stronger action if the inflation outlook and inflation expectations indicators suggest the need for such action. Brainard expects methodical interest rate increases and rapid reductions to the Fed’s balance sheet to bring U.S. monetary policy …

The GBP is recording a slight gain on the day, bouncing off the low-1.31s. Bank of England (BoE) rates pricing are still too optimistic, which should drag cable down to the 1.30 level.Broader trends since last summer suggest weakness ahead. Markets could do with a decent amount of repricing of …

Biden administration officials are looking at ways to boost oil imports from Canada, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The White House still opposes the Keystone pipeline and other options include shipping more oil by rail, or expanding pipeline capacity along existing routes. The Canadian dollar saw immediate strength …

After peaking at $48,000 last week, Bitcoin tested the resistance level and moved sideways during the weekend’s trading. The cryptocurrency saw a weak correction simultaneously, while Ethereum made a faster recovery, testing the $3,500 area. Bitcoin tested $48,000, the end of the bullish range of its latest trend, and saw …