Market Update

Key Takeaways Futures slip: Dow futures fell 213 points (-0.4%), S&P 500 futures dropped 0.2%, and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 0.1% as Hormuz tensions flared. Iran turns away warships: Iran’s navy claimed it repelled enemy warships in the Strait of Hormuz with a “swift and decisive warning,” per Reuters citing …

Key Takeaways Crude oil prices surged more than 4% during the European session, with WTI near $103.50 and Brent around $112, following reports of an escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Fars News Agency said a US warship was hit by two missiles after ignoring warnings, while state TV …

Key Takeaways Prices steady: Spot gold held at $4,612.98/oz, while gold futures slipped 0.4% to $4,624.14/oz. Two months of pain: Gold is nursing back-to-back monthly losses as inflation fears overshadow safe-haven appeal. Other metals firmer: Spot silver rose 0.4% to $75.6945/oz, while spot platinum gained 0.9% to $2,010.0/oz. Trump’s Hormuz …

Key Takeaways Three-month peak: Bitcoin surged 2.7% to $80,286.5, riding a near 12% gain in April on bargain buying. ETF inflows roar: Net inflows into U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs hit $1.97 billion in April — the highest level since October 2025 when Bitcoin last hit a record. But still below …

Key Takeaways Yen edges up: USD/JPY slipped 0.1% to 156.92, retreating slightly from an earlier climb to 155.69 amid thin holiday trading. Biggest weekly jump since February: The yen spiked roughly 1.5% against the dollar last week. $35 billion strike: Reuters reported Tokyo may have spent as much as 5.48 …

Key Takeaways Muted European open: The Stoxx 600 and DAX both rose 0.2%, while the CAC 40 and FTSE 100 traded broadly unchanged. Trump’s Hormuz push: The president announced a new effort over the weekend to help vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, though details remain scarce. Mine danger …

Key Takeaways Hike widely expected: The RBA is anticipated to raise rates by 25 basis points to 4.35% on May 5 — its third hike of the year. Easing cycle reversed: The move will fully unwind the brief easing cycle of 2025 and return rates to late-2024 levels. Inflation alarm …

Key Takeaways Modest gains: Brent crude rose 0.6% to $108.84 per barrel, while WTI added 0.6% to $102.59 — both bouncing back after Friday’s losses. No deal in sight: The absence of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement continues to constrain supplies and prop up prices above $100. Hormuz still choked: Shipping …

While some weeks pass in silence, others redraw the global economic map. The trading week of April 27 – May 1, 2026, falls firmly into the latter. Between five major central bank decisions, a historic Fed dissent, aggressive Japanese intervention to bolster the Yen, and blockbuster tech earnings, market expectations …

Gold prices climbed above the $4,600 mark, extending gains as Japan’s intervention in currency markets pushed the U.S. Dollar lower. At the same time, news of a new proposal from Iran helped ease oil prices, lifting investor sentiment and supporting Wall Street’s positive tone. Fed Keeps a Watchful EyeDespite the …