Oil Prices Up After Iran Attacks Two U.S.-Iraqi Airbases, Sparking More Conflicts
By Ritu, Capital Sands Oil prices jumped on Wednesday in Asia after Iran attacked two U.S.-Iraqi airbases in response to a U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian general last week, sparking worries of intensifying conflict in the Middle East. Overnight, the Pentagon said missile strikes were launched from Iran and targeted the Ayn al-Asad […]
Swiss franc holds gains, yen steady as traders eye Iran
By Ritu, Capital Sands The Swiss franc held gains against the dollar on Tuesday as traders sought save-havens amid heightened anxiety about potential Iranian retaliation to a U.S. drone strike that killed its most prominent military commander. The yen, another safe-haven currency, pulled back from a three-month high versus the dollar, but sentiment remains fragile […]
Asian Markets Fall Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions, Trade War Uncertainties
By Ritu Capital Sands Asian equities traded mostly lower in morning trade on Monday amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and uncertainties surrounding the singing of the Sino-U.S. phase one trade deal. China’s Shanghai Composite and the Shenzhen Component both gained 0.4%. Sino-U.S. trade developments remained in focus. U.S. President Donald Trump said in a […]
German unemployment rises more than expected in December
By Ritu, Capital Sands German unemployment rose more than expected in December, data showed on Friday, adding to signs that weakness in the manufacturing sector is hurting the labor market in Europe’s biggest economy. Data from the Federal Labor Office showed the number of people out of work rose by 8,000 to 2.279 million […]
Brent jumps nearly $3 after U.S. air strike kills Iran, Iraq officials
By Ritu, Capital Sands Brent crude futures jumped close to $3 on Friday to their highest since September after a U.S. air strike killed key Iranian and Iraqi military personnel, raising concerns that escalating Middle East tensions may disrupt oil supplies. Brent crude futures jumped nearly $3 to hit a high of $69.16 a barrel, […]
Dollar starts new year with a hangover as others find cheer
By Ritu, Capital Sands The dollar started the new year where it left the old one, under pressure as investors wagered U.S. economic out performance could be coming to an end as optimism on trade brightens the outlook for growth globally. Signs of progress in the Sino-U.S. trade dispute undermined the dollar for much of […]
Trade optimism puts floor on dollar/yen, boosts Aussie
By Ritu, Capital Sands The dollar hovered near a six-month high versus the Japanese yen while the Australian dollar climbed to its strongest since July on Friday, buoyed by easing Sino-U.S. trade tensions. The optimism around prospects for a trade deal reduced demand for safe-haven currencies such as the yen, but with global currency […]
5 Things to Watch for in Global Markets in 2020
By Ritu, Capital Sands 1. No end in sight to the U.S.-China struggle for supremacy The trade war between the U.S. and China, which hobbled the world economy almost single-handedly in 2019 is likely to leave deep marks on 2020 too. The International Monetary Fund estimated in October that the tariffs imposed […]
European shares hover near record high in thin holiday trade
By Ritu, Capital Sands European shares traded near all-time highs on Tuesday in a holiday-shortened week, helped by optimism about the global economic outlook amid progress in U.S.-China trade talks. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was nearly unchanged . Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.2% and Spain’s IBEX ) eased 0.4%. France’s CAC was trading […]
European shares edge lower ahead of Christmas holiday break
By Ritu, Capital Sands European shares dipped slightly on Monday after nearing a record high in the previous session, as trading thinned ahead of the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays later in the week. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.1% at 0814 GMT, with the banking sector leading declines. An improving outlook […]