Market Update

Canada’s main stock index, the S&P/TSX, fell to three-week lows below the 21,000 mark, amid a global risk-off sentiment fueled by growing concerns that the Federal Reserve will bring forward rate hike plans. Technology stocks dipped 2.3%, falling for the sixth session in a row as bond yields continue to …

Eurozone’s investor sentiment unexpectedly improved in the first month of 2022, the latest data published by the Sentix research group showed on Monday. The gauge jumped to 14.9 in January from 13.5 in December vs. a drop to 12.0 expected. The index rebounded sharply from the lowest levels since April …

The dollar rose somewhat on Monday as expectations increased that US inflation would support the prospects of a US interest rate hike, while the European Central Bank’s dovish stance weighed on the Euro lower. The dollar witnessed selling at the end of last week due to weaker-than-expected data on new …

Goldman Sachs expects the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates 4 times this year, in March, June, September and December, according to Bloomberg. Rapid progress in the US labour market and hawkish signals in minutes from the Dec 14-15 Federal Open Market Committee suggest faster normalisation, Goldman’s Jan Hatzius said in …

European shares fell in early trading on Monday, after last week’s first weekly decline in three weeks, amid rising Covid-19 infections and increasing uncertainty over the course of interest rates. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.4 percent at 0830 GMT, weighed down by falls in the real estate, technology …

Oil prices rose Monday, January 10, as supply disruptions in Kazakhstan and Libya offset fears stemming from the rapid global rise in infections with the mutated Omicron strain of the coronavirus. Brent crude rose 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $81.91 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 15 …

Gold settled on Monday near its lowest level in three weeks, as traders awaited US inflation data for the month of December, which may boost expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates sooner than expected after weak data on the US employment rate. There was little change in …

The last trading week ended with a decline in the US dollar as risk appetite improved with optimism around Omicron, in addition to data out of the USA. As a result, the dollar index, which measures the strength of the US currency against a basket of currencies, fell to 95.7. …

Nonfarm Payrolls relatively disappointed prior estimates, but the labor market indicators were stronger than expected. The employment data has had a modest impact on the forex market. In the light of the NFP data, the US Fed is very determined to move out of easing policy settings.Economic DataNonfarm Payrolls (NFP) …

The first seven days of 2022 have not been kind to bitcoin, as the most famous cryptocurrency lost 11% of its value within days and finished this week at about $42,000; down almost 40% from its all-time high in 2021’s fall.Other digital coins including ethereum and ripple also fell this …