Market Update

The Middle East has now been at war for nearly four weeks, and the economic shockwaves are being felt far beyond the battlefield. At the center of it all is a narrow strip of water — just 21 miles wide at its tightest point — that carries roughly one-fifth of …

The April 28–29, 2026 FOMC meeting will likely mark Jerome Powell’s final monetary policy decision as Federal Reserve Chair. His four-year term as Chair expires on May 15, 2026. While Powell has stated he will serve as Chair pro tempore until a successor (reportedly Kevin Warsh) is confirmed by the …

Gold prices moved lower on Thursday, reversing recent gains as global uncertainty and shifting economic expectations pressured the precious metal. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East—particularly the unresolved situation between the United States and Iran—continue to keep investors cautious, limiting gold’s ability to sustain upward momentum.Despite gold’s traditional role as …

Volkswagen’s largest shareholder, Porsche SE, is shifting its focus toward defence and technology investments after reporting a sharp decline in earnings. The holding company, which controls nearly a third of Volkswagen’s shares and a majority of its voting rights, saw adjusted profits fall by 9% in 2025. The drop was …

Oil prices surged on Thursday, extending a period of heightened volatility as investors reacted to mixed signals surrounding potential de-escalation in the Middle East. Gains were driven by persistent uncertainty over diplomatic efforts, even as Iran reviews a U.S.-backed proposal to end the ongoing conflict. As of 05:33 ET (09:33 …

U.S. stock index futures edged lower early Thursday, as investors reassessed the likelihood of a near-term resolution to the Middle East conflict following cautious signals from Iran. While Tehran confirmed it is reviewing a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, it ruled out direct negotiations with Washington, dampening earlier optimism. As of 01:57 …

Bitcoin retreated on Thursday, reversing part of this week’s gains as investor sentiment weakened amid conflicting signals surrounding a potential ceasefire in the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. The pullback reflects broader caution across risk-sensitive assets, as markets remain highly reactive to geopolitical developments and policy uncertainty. The world’s largest …

Consumer sentiment in Germany deteriorated sharply, reaching its weakest level since March 2024, as escalating tensions in the Middle East fueled concerns over rising energy costs and renewed inflationary pressures. According to data released on Thursday by GfK in partnership with the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions, the consumer climate …

Gold prices declined in Asian trading on Thursday, as investors navigated mixed signals surrounding the Iran conflict while a firmer U.S. dollar reduced the metal’s appeal. The pullback highlights the ongoing tension between geopolitical demand for safe-haven assets and macroeconomic pressures tied to interest rates. Spot gold fell 1.1% to …

Oil prices rebounded by more than 2% in Asian trading on Thursday, as markets reacted to conflicting signals surrounding potential de-escalation in the Middle East. The gains follow a sharp decline in the previous session, underscoring the heightened volatility driven by geopolitical uncertainty. As of 02:09 ET (00:31 GMT), Brent …