Market Update

European shares settled at the open on Friday in light of weak trading during the Christmas holidays, after global stocks rose recently on indications that the mutated Omicron may not derail the recovery of the global economy. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was stable by 0930 GMT, after rising nearly …

The dollar headed for its worst week since September, while other risk-friendly assets from bitcoin to the Australian dollar maintained their recent gains buoyed by easing concerns about the severity of the new COVID-19 mutation. MSCI’s Asia Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.2%, and Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.1% after the …

The Nikkei index gave up small gains and fell on Friday, as investor sentiment was negatively affected by the news of the discovery of the first local cases of the omicron of the coronavirus in Tokyo. The Nikkei fell 0.05 percent to close at 28,782.59 points, after rising by 0.25 …

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Friday, December 24, that he expects relatively high gas prices next year, according to the Interfax news agency. Europe relies on Russia to provide about 35% of its natural gas needs, the price of which has risen to an all-time high on the …

Brent crude futures edged higher to USD 74.2 per barrel on Wednesday, after rebounding more than 3% in the previous session, as shrinking inventories and an energy crunch in Europe more than offset worries about new restrictions to combat the Omicron spread that could dent fuel demand. Oil prices fell …

For the second day in a row, positive sentiment has dominated financial markets worldwide on the back of some important US economic data and positive news about Covid-19.It is expected that the volume of transactions in the financial markets will witness a noticeable decline in liquidity rates, starting from Friday, …

So far, commodities have been the best performing asset class in 2021 amid record high prices, but will rising interest rates next year hold back the momentum of this investment?The sped-up tapering is signaling steeper interest rate hikes over the next two years, consequently, this will add to the US …

The US is suffering from its highest inflation wave in 40 years according to newly released federal economic figures. For anyone hoping there would be an end to the exorbitant climb in prices before year-end, this was a disappointment. But it could be the peak.The Bureau of Economic Analysis released …

British companies found it more and more hard in 2021 to trade with the European Union under the terms of the Brexit trade deal struck with the bloc, a survey showed on Thursday.The British Chambers of Commerce said 45% of companies surveyed in October found it very or relatively difficult …

The number of active drilling rigs in the United States last week rose by 7, bringing the total to 586 as oil prices remain relatively strong despite the fresh wave of Covid-19 cases brought by the new variant of the coronavirus.Last week’s count compared with a rig count rise of …