Market Update

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 …

An EU source told Reuters that the European Commission will propose on Tuesday, April 5th, that EU countries impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia, including a ban on imports of coal, rubber, chemicals and other products from Russia worth up to nine billion euros annually. The source said the EU …

Oil futures extended gains in trading on Tuesday as the United States and Europe plan to impose new sanctions against Russia over alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, heightening concerns about supply disruptions as Iran nuclear talks falter. Brent crude futures rose 1.20 dollars, equivalent to 1.1%, …

Gold prices fell in trading today, Tuesday, with the continued stability of the US dollar, amid increasing expectations of imposing new sanctions against Russia, and the Federal Reserve raising interest rates further to control high inflation rates. And the spot price of gold decreased by 0.2% to reach $ 1928.52 …

European shares were little changed on Tuesday, as a rise in oil prices due to the possibility of more sanctions on crude-exporting Russia lifted energy shares, helping to offset losses in banks and industrial companies. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.1 percent by 0710 GMT, after two days of …

Japan’s Nikkei index closed higher on Tuesday after a choppy session, tracking gains on Wall Street overnight, but investors’ caution about corporate earnings expectations capped gains. The Nikkei rose 0.19 percent to close at 27,787.98 points, after falling as much as 0.26 percent earlier in the session. Shares of oil …