Market Update

Key Takeaways Broad-based slide: The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 0.4%, with Germany’s DAX down 0.1%, France’s CAC 40 off 0.4%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 losing 0.4%. Fragile ceasefires: Trump’s three-week extension of the Israel-Lebanon truce faces doubts after Hezbollah was excluded from the talks, while the indefinite U.S.-Iran ceasefire …

Key Takeaways Gold under pressure: Spot gold slipped 0.5% to $4,672.22/oz, with prices on track for a steep 3% weekly loss as the dollar surged to its best week since early March. Silver and platinum hit harder: Silver plunged nearly 8% for the week to $74.483/oz, while platinum shed 5.4% …

Key Takeaways Headline beat: UK retail sales jumped 0.7% month-on-month in March, dramatically outperforming the 0.1% gain analysts had forecast. Annual strength: Year-on-year retail sales climbed 1.7%, comfortably above the 1.3% expected by the market. Excluding fuel: Monthly sales excluding fuel edged up 0.2%, topping predictions of no change from …

Key Takeaways Prices climb: Brent crude rose 1.1% to $106.27/barrel; WTI gained 1% to $96.83/barrel, with both benchmarks set to end the week 15%–18% higher. Trump’s tough line: The president said he’s in “no rush” to reach a deal with Iran, while ruling out nuclear weapons and claiming U.S. strikes …

Defense stocks are facing a rough week, with investor confidence shaken in their role as safe havens. Lockheed Martin’s disappointing earnings report has amplified concerns and sent shockwaves across the sector. Earnings Under PressureLockheed Martin’s first-quarter results revealed a sharp setback. Revenue held steady at $18.0 billion compared to last …

The US dollar extended its upward momentum, with the Dollar Index (DXY) holding near the 98.70 region and maintaining its position close to two-week highs. The move reflects a combination of resilient US economic data and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty that continues to support demand for the greenback.Strong US Data Reinforces …

Silver is facing clear downward pressure amid lingering uncertainty surrounding the fragile truce between the United States and Iran, while precious metals as a whole continue to struggle in a challenging environment since the start of the year.After a powerful rally that began in August 2025—driven by a global shift …

April’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data paints a stark picture of how the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran is reverberating across the global economy. The shock is not uniform, but its effects are unmistakable: rising energy costs, disrupted supply chains, and mounting inflationary pressures. Energy, shipping, and …

The USD/JPY pair remained steady near recent highs on Thursday, holding around the 159.45 level after three consecutive days of gains. The pair continues to benefit from a stronger US dollar, supported by persistent geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz that are keeping energy prices elevated and markets on …

China’s economic resilience is being tested once again, as global tensions and trade pressures begin to weigh more heavily on its vast manufacturing sector. While the country has managed to maintain steady growth in recent years, signs of strain are becoming increasingly visible—especially among factory workers facing uncertain futures.Workers Caught …