AHR Weekly Market Update Podcast: Recent Episodes
AHR Weekly Market Update
A brief recap of the weeks economic activity presented by the Chief Investment Officer at AHR Private Wealth.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 31st May 2026.
Global equity markets closed out May on a high note, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average crossing 51,000 for the first time and the S&P 500 posting a ninth consecutive weekly gain — its longest winning run in several years.
The dominant driver was a tentative but meaningful breakthrough in the Middle East: reports emerged that the US and Iran had agreed in principle to a 60-day ceasefire extension and a memorandum of understanding to commence formal nuclear negotiations, contingent on a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The other defining story of the week was AI-driven earnings momentum, which continued to broaden beyond the largest technology platforms.
The macro backdrop, however, offered a more complicated picture.
In Europe, markets were broadly flat, with the STOXX 600 advancing just 0.14% as investors remained focused on Strait of Hormuz developments.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 24th May 2026.
Global equity markets continued to advance in the week ending 24 May, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching a fresh all-time high and the S&P 500 posting its eighth consecutive weekly gain — its longest winning streak since 2023.
The advance came despite a volatile early start to the week as Treasury yields climbed sharply on the back of hawkish Fed minutes and persistent inflation data.
The macro backdrop, however, remains distinctly challenging.
In Europe, markets rallied strongly on de-escalation hopes, with the STOXX 600 gaining 3.0%, Germany's DAX rising 3.92%, and the UK's FTSE 100 climbing 2.66%.
Japan's Nikkei 225 also rebounded strongly, gaining 3.14%, led by technology and AI-related stocks as oil price stabilisation lifted sentiment across energy-import-dependent Asian markets.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 17th May 2026.
This week delivered a sharp reminder that the path back to market normality remains uneven.
The week opened on a constructive note, with the S&P 500 hitting a new all-time high on Monday as technology stocks advanced, even as the White House confirmed it had rejected Iran’s latest diplomatic proposal over the weekend.
The macro picture continues to diverge sharply by geography.
In Japan, the Nikkei declined modestly as semiconductor stocks gave back some recent gains, while the 10-year Japanese government bond yield rose to 2.72% — its highest level since 1997 — reflecting growing conviction that the Bank of Japan is approaching its next rate hike.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 10th May 2026.
Global equity markets extended their winning run to a sixth consecutive week, with the rally that began in late March continuing to broaden and deepen despite a heavy and at times contradictory news flow spanning geopolitics, central bank policy, and corporate earnings.
Earnings season was once again the primary engine of positive sentiment.
On the macroeconomic front, the picture was genuinely mixed.
In Europe, sentiment improved early in the week on easing geopolitical tensions, before being tempered by US President Trump's threat to impose substantially higher tariffs on European goods unless the EU moved its own tariffs on US imports to zero.
Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 5.38% in a shortened trading week following the Golden Week holiday, reaching a record high driven by technology and semiconductor stocks.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 19th April 2026.
The week ending 19 April delivered a third consecutive week of gains for global equity markets, with several major indices reaching record highs as the geopolitical backdrop continued to improve — albeit against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty over the durability of any resolution to the Middle East conflict.
The week's defining moment came on Friday, when Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz completely open to commercial vessels following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
US equities led the advance.
European markets joined the rally, with Germany's DAX gaining 3.77% and France's CAC 40 adding 2.0%.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 2.73% and touched a new all-time high.
On the macro data front, US producer prices rose at a slower-than-expected pace in March, with core PPI particularly subdued.
The VIX closed below 20, approaching pre-conflict levels.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 12th April 2026.
The week ending 12 April was defined by a single watershed moment: the announcement late on Tuesday of a conditional two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, which unleashed the most powerful single-session risk rally seen in approximately a year.
The S&P 500 surged 2.5% on Wednesday — its best one-day performance in around twelve months — while the Dow climbed 2.9%, the Russell 2000 gained 3.0%, and international equities rallied 3.5%.
The ceasefire's terms — contingent on Iran agreeing to a complete, immediate, and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — had an immediate and dramatic effect on energy markets.
Fixed income markets offered a more measured verdict.
Credit markets told a more constructive story.
Currency markets underwent a notable reversal.
Despite the relief rally, the mood by Friday remained cautious.
Looking ahead, attention turns to first-quarter earnings season, with major US banks reporting imminently.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 15th February 2026.
Global equity markets were notably volatile over the week, as investors grappled with divergent signals from corporate earnings, macroeconomic data and broader risk sentiment.
In the United States, equities finished the week lower, with major indices under pressure as concerns over the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and valuation risk weighed on technology and growth stocks.
Strong US labour market data surprised investors over the week.
With over 75% of companies now having reported Q4 earnings, a significant majority of S&P 500 companies have beaten expectations, with approximately 79% of firms surpassing consensus forecasts and an average earnings surprise of 8.2%.
Outside the US, performance was more resilient.
Fixed income markets reflected investor caution.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 8th February 2026.
Global equity markets were mixed over the week, with US equities declining while international markets were more resilient, as investors reassessed expectations for monetary policy and digested a steady flow of economic and corporate news.
In the United States, equity markets moved lower as concerns emerged around valuation levels, particularly within large-cap technology stocks that have driven much of the market’s gains over the past year.
The week brought a large dose of US labour market data, with the majority surprising to the downside.
Outside the US, equity performance was comparatively stronger.
Curency markets were impacted by two key interest rate decision across Europe for the week.
Asian markets delivered mixed results.
The recent trend of heightened precious metals price volatility continued, with gold rebounding from the previous week’s decline and silver retreating.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 25th January 2026.
Global equity markets were mixed over the past week, trading cautiously as investors absorbed geopolitical noise, economic data revisions and ongoing rotation in leadership amid mixed earnings signals.
In the United States, major stock indexes finished the week generally lower, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average posting slight declines and the Nasdaq Composite modestly underperforming.
Economic data continued to offer a nuanced picture of the US economy.
Within markets, leadership continued to rotate.
Internationally, performance diverged.
Fixed-income markets hinted at a cautiously constructive backdrop.
Looking ahead, investors will be watching a fresh slate of macroeconomic data—especially updated jobs figures and inflation prints—as well as central bank rate announcement from the Fed with commentary that could clarify the outlook for monetary policy.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 11th January 2026.
Global equity markets climbed modestly over the week as investors responded to a mix of economic data, central bank signals and earnings momentum, setting a cautiously optimistic tone for markets early in 2026.
In the United States, equities got off to a strong start in the first full trading week of the year, with major indexes reaching fresh highs as sentiment improved around policy direction and economic stability.
Economic data painted a nuanced picture of the US macro backdrop.
Fixed-income markets responded to these signals with modest gains in Treasuries early in the week as traders weighed the potential for future rate cuts.
Across the Atlantic, European equity markets also fared well, with the STOXX Europe 600 index advancing on optimism that economic momentum is stabilising, supported in part by encouraging industrial production and consumer spending data.
Commodities performed positively, with energy prices rising as geopolitical developments and supply considerations kept broader markets engaged.
Looking ahead, market participants will focus on a fresh slate of economic releases, including consumer price data and jobless figures, alongside corporate earnings updates that will help clarify the pace of global growth and inflation.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 14th December 2025.
Global equity markets traded with a blend of optimism and caution over the past week as investors digested central bank policy, corporate earnings signals and shifting sentiment around the US economic outlook.
The Federal Reserve delivered its third consecutive interest rate cut, lowering the federal funds target range by 25 basis points to 3.50%–3.75%, in line with market expectations and reflective of heightened downside risks to the labour market.
Equity performance during the week reflected this nuanced backdrop.
European equities posted a third consecutive weekly gain as optimism around Fed easing bolstered risk sentiment.
Fixed-income markets exhibited a mixed picture.
Looking ahead, markets turn their attention to forthcoming macro releases—including delayed US labour data—and central bank guidance on timing and scale of future policy moves.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 7th December 2025.
Global equity markets edged higher over the week as investors interpreted softer US inflation and weakening labour market data as strengthening the case for an imminent Federal Reserve rate cut.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis released the long-delayed September personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation data on Friday after disruptions caused by the US government shutdown.
Further evidence of labour market cooling emerged from the private sector.
Across Europe, inflationary trends remained broadly contained.
Asset markets responded in familiar fashion to the accumulating evidence of slower growth and softer price pressures.
Bond markets, however, moved in the opposite direction.
Elsewhere, OPEC and its allies signalled caution on the global growth outlook by committing to hold output steady through the first quarter of 2026.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 16th November 2025.
Global equity markets endured a volatile week, with US stocks underperforming their international peers amid shifting expectations for Federal Reserve policy and renewed scrutiny of valuations in artificial intelligence (AI)-related shares.
The week began on a cautiously optimistic note following the resolution of the longest US government shutdown on record.
Bond markets reflected the growing uncertainty around the near-term policy path.
In the UK, disappointing economic data added pressure on the Bank of England to act.
Equity performance reflected the divergence between US and international markets.
Cryptocurrency markets extended their recent decline.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 9th November 2025.
Global equity markets fell last week as the rally in mega-cap technology stocks faltered, dragging down broader indices and injecting a dose of volatility into markets that had otherwise been buoyed by optimism over monetary easing and earnings resilience.
In the United States, third-quarter earnings season neared its conclusion, with roughly 85% of S&P 500 companies having reported results as of Thursday.
Away from earnings, the protracted US government shutdown entered its sixth week, delaying the release of key economic data, including the monthly jobs report.
In the UK, the Bank of England voted narrowly (5–4) to keep its key policy rate unchanged at 4.0%.
Market performance reflected these crosscurrents. US equities fell nearly 2% for the week, led by a 3% decline in technology shares amid fading AI enthusiasm.
In commodities, oil prices extended their decline, even after OPEC+ confirmed a smaller-than-expected output increase of 137,000 barrels per day in December and no changes through Q1 2026.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 2nd November 2025.
Global equity markets finished the week on a mixed note as investors weighed a flurry of central bank decisions and a busy corporate earnings calendar.
As expected, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for a second consecutive meeting, lowering the fed funds target range to 3.75%–4%, bringing cumulative easing this cycle to 150 basis points.
However, the path ahead remains uncertain.
Across the Atlantic, the European Central Bank kept rates unchanged for a third straight meeting, reaffirming that decisions would remain data dependent and taken “meeting by meeting.”
Corporate earnings dominated market attention, with third-quarter results from several of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” technology giants driving volatility.
Elsewhere, the US and China announced a limited trade agreement, with President Trump confirming a reduction in combined tariff rates on Chinese imports from 57% to 47%, alongside concessions on rare earth exports and agricultural trade.
Equity market performance reflected these crosscurrents.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 26th October 2025.
Global equity markets pushed higher last week, with US stocks reaching fresh record highs, as investors grew increasingly confident that the Federal Reserve will deliver another interest rate cut at its upcoming policy meeting.
The ongoing US government shutdown continued to cloud the macroeconomic backdrop by halting key economic data releases, including the monthly jobs report.
The inflation report came in softer than expected.
In the UK, inflation unexpectedly held steady at 3.8% in September, unchanged for the third consecutive month, defying expectations of a marginal uptick.
Earnings season remained a key focus for US investors, with mega-cap technology names again dominating index performance.
The positive inflation surprise and anticipation of easier monetary policy fuelled a strong rally across major markets.
In commodities, oil prices snapped a three-week losing streak, with US crude rising nearly 7% to trade at around $61.50 per barrel after Washington imposed sanctions on major Russian oil producers.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 19th October 2025.
Global equity markets advanced last week, buoyed by a strong start to the US earnings season, even as volatility surged to its highest level since April and bond yields extended their recent decline.
Investor sentiment was shaped by a mix of macroeconomic uncertainty and sector-specific developments.
Adding to the supportive tone, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that the central bank remains inclined toward further rate cuts this year.
In the UK, economic data signalled modest growth but continued labour market softening.
Global equity performance reflected the contrasting regional narratives.
Commodities presented a striking divergence.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 5th October 2025.
Global equity markets advanced last week even as the US government officially entered a shutdown, while oil prices tumbled amid concerns over potential global oversupply.
At midnight on September 30, the US government ceased operations after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement.
In Europe, headline annual inflation in the eurozone edged up to 2.2% in September from 2.0% in August, driven by higher services costs and a slower decline in energy prices.
Equity performance was mixed but generally positive. US markets rose more than 1% despite the shutdown, supported by positive investor sentiment around AI.
Commodities experienced divergent movements.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 28th September 2025.
Global equity markets remained largely subdued over the week, despite encouraging economic data from the United States, while commodity markets, particularly gold and oil, delivered strong gains.
US inflation showed little movement in August, according to the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of underlying price pressures.
Economic data released last week also painted a positive picture of US growth.
On the political front, President Donald Trump announced a new wave of tariffs, including a 100% levy on branded or patented drug imports from 1 October, unless a company is building production facilities in the United States.
Equity markets, however, were relatively flat despite the positive US data. European indices remained largely unchanged, while UK equities gained just under 0.75%.
Commodities continued to capture investor attention.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 21st September 2025.
US equity markets reached new record highs last week, as investors digested a series of interest rate decisions from both sides of the Atlantic and assessed the implications for economic growth and corporate earnings.
The US Federal Reserve moved decisively, cutting interest rates by 25 basis points for the first time in nearly a year.
Across the Atlantic, the Bank of England held its key interest rate at 4%, with a 7–2 vote from the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
Equity markets responded positively in the US, with technology stocks leading the gains, up more than 2%, while small-cap shares also rose over 2%, buoyed by the Fed’s move.
Despite the Fed’s rate cut, US government bond yields rose modestly over the week, particularly along the longer end of the curve.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 14th September 2025.
Global equity markets posted solid gains last week as investors absorbed a series of key economic updates, including fresh US inflation data, the European Central Bank’s (ECB) interest rate decision, and further output increases from OPEC.
In the United States, inflation picked up in August, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that headline consumer prices rose 2.9% year on year, up from 2.7% in July.
Across the Atlantic, the ECB held its key deposit rate at 2% as widely expected.
Equities responded positively on both sides of the Atlantic. The S&P 500 rose by more than 1%, buoyed by expectations of imminent US rate cuts, while European shares also advanced over 1% following the ECB update.
In commodities, gold extended its remarkable run, climbing for a fourth consecutive week and briefly reaching a record $3,706 per ounce on Tuesday before trading near $3,681 by Friday afternoon.
Looking ahead, investors will focus on the Federal Reserve’s rate decision, paying close attention not only to the near-term 25 basis point cut but also to the Fed’s guidance on the path of future policy.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 7th September 2025.
Global equity markets were largely subdued this week, as investors digested a mix of weak US labour data, steady European inflation, and ongoing volatility in government bond markets.
In the United States, the labour market showed clear signs of cooling.
In the eurozone, inflation remained broadly stable.
Equity markets were mixed across regions. In the US, broad indices were largely flat for the week, though technology stocks gained 1.1%, driven by strong performances from Apple and Alphabet.
Government bond markets experienced notable volatility.
Meanwhile, gold continued its relentless ascent, surpassing $3,500 per ounce for the first time and reaching $3,560.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 31st August 2025.
Global equity markets posted a relatively flat performance last week as investors digested a mix of corporate earnings, gold price movements, and US inflation data.
The US Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, nudged higher in July.
S&P 500 companies reported a second-quarter earnings gain averaging 11.7% year-over-year, marking the third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, albeit slightly below the prior quarter’s 12.9% pace.
At the forefront was NVIDIA, now the world’s most valuable company with a market capitalisation of $4.2 trillion, representing roughly 8% of the S&P 500.
Equity performance was mixed globally.
Commodities also made headlines.
The week underlined a diverged market landscape.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 24th August 2025.
Global equity markets experienced a rotation in sentiment last week, with performance diverging across regions ahead of Friday’s Jackson Hole symposium, where US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell offered fresh guidance on monetary policy.
In the UK, inflationary pressures intensified in July, with annual consumer price growth climbing to 3.8% from 3.6% in June, the highest level in 18 months.
Across the Atlantic, attention turned to the US, where the corporate and policy landscape made headlines.
Equity markets rallied on Friday after Powell addressed the annual Jackson Hole central banking conference.
Market responses were mixed over the week.
Global bond markets were also supported by increasing hopes of US rate cuts.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 17th August 2025.
Investor attention last week centred on a trio of headline economic developments: US inflation data, UK GDP figures, and the extension of a US-China tariff pause.
In the United States, markets closely monitored the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) release, anticipating a potential tariff-driven rise in inflation.
Across the Atlantic, the UK economy demonstrated surprising resilience in June, expanding 0.4% following a 0.1% contraction in May.
Meanwhile, trade developments provided a degree of relief to global markets.
Equity markets responded positively across the board. US shares rose approximately 1%, with rate-sensitive small-cap and value stocks leading the advance.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 10th August 2025.
The US technology stock index surged to fresh record highs this week, driven by investor reaction to key developments, including interest rate announcements from the Bank of England, the expiration of the US tariff pause, and strong corporate earnings from some of the US' largest companies.
On Thursday, the Bank of England (BoE) opted to cut UK interest rates by a quarter point, marking its fifth reduction in just 12 months.
Across the Atlantic, the expiry of the US tariff pause on August 7 saw tariffs on most US trading partners rise from the previous 10% baseline established in April.
Earnings season is winding down, with the so-called 'Magnificent 7' – seven mega-cap stocks – continuing to drive a disproportionately large share of overall second-quarter earnings growth.
Over the week US equities rose by 2.4%, with the technology sector leading the charge, gaining 3.9% on the back of robust corporate earnings.
Meanwhile, OPEC and its allies agreed to a further output increase of 547,000 barrels per day, equivalent to 0.5% of global crude supply.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 29th June 2025.
US equity markets surged to fresh record highs last week, buoyed by a combination of easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and renewed optimism around global trade.
The rally came despite a modest uptick in US inflation.
Markets were also buoyed by progress on US-China trade relations.
In equity markets, the S&P 500 rallied over 3.4% for the week, with US technology stocks climbing 4.25%, surpassing their previous peak set in December.
In fixed income, bond yields declined across the curve for a third consecutive week, with shorter-dated maturities registering the steepest drops.
Across commodity markets, energy prices reflected the shift in geopolitical risk.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 22nd June 2025.
Equity markets drifted lower last week as a series of high-profile central bank decisions was largely overshadowed by escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The US Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25%–4.5% for a fourth consecutive meeting, in line with expectations.
Across the Atlantic, the Bank of England followed suit, maintaining its Bank Rate at 4.25%.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan left its key rate at 0.5% and announced it would begin to slow the pace of government bond purchases from April 2026.
US equity markets ended the week slightly negative by around 0.2% as investors digested the Federal Reserves rate decision and commentary suggesting that rate cuts may not be as forth coming as previously thought.
As conflict in the Middle East continued to escalate during the week, fixed income assets provided investors with a safe haven, US 10-year treasury yields remaining stable at around 4.38%.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 15th June 2025.
Global equity markets ended the week in negative territory, as mounting tensions in the Middle East overshadowed softer-than-expected inflation data and tentative progress on US-China trade relations.
Markets sold off sharply on Friday following reports that Israeli airstrikes had targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, reigniting fears of broader regional instability.
Earlier in the week, inflation figures out of the US offered a more constructive picture.
Meanwhile, trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing made headway.
In the UK, economic momentum faltered. GDP contracted by 0.3% in April—its sharpest monthly decline since October 2023—following 0.2% growth in March.
Equity markets reflected the broader unease.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 8th June 2025.
Global equities posted modest gains last week, led by a strong performance in US markets, which rallied to their highest levels in three months.
In the US, non-farm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, with April’s figure revised down to 147,000.
Corporate earnings continued to provide a tailwind.
In Europe, the European Central Bank cut its deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2%, its lowest level since 2022.
Equity markets responded positively to the macro economic developments.
Elsewhere, oil markets rallied despite higher expected output.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 2nd June 2025.
Global equity markets advanced last week, clawing back some of the ground lost during the recent sell-off, though year-to-date gains remain modest.
Investor sentiment received a boost from a robust set of earnings, most notably from Nvidia
The broader US earnings season showed resilience, with S&P 500 constituents delivering average earnings growth of 12.9% in the first quarter, marking a second straight quarter of double-digit gains, albeit slower than the 17.8% pace seen previously.
Inflation data added further support.
On the policy front, President Donald Trump announced plans to double tariffs on aluminium and steel imports to 50%, effective 4th June.
Equity markets responded positively to the prospect of delayed or moderated trade actions.
In fixed income markets the yield of the 30-year U.S.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 25th May 2025.
Global equity markets declined whilst US Government bond yields increased over the week as rising US debt levels and trade tariffs weighed on investor sentiment.
Moody’s has stripped the United States of its final triple-A credit rating, citing Washington’s persistent failure to rein in ballooning fiscal deficits and the mounting burden of interest payments as a share of GDP.
The downgrade came just days after the US House of Representatives narrowly passed a contentious tax reconciliation bill by a single vote.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump re-entered the trade fray, declaring that a 50% tariff on EU imports will come into effect from 1st June, and threatening a further 25% levy on iPhones manufactured outside the United States
Back in the UK, inflation unexpectedly accelerated in April, with headline CPI rising to 3.5% year-on-year—its highest reading since January 2024—driven by steeper housing and energy costs. Retail sales also surprised to the upside, climbing 1.2% on the month and 5.0% versus a year earlier.
Markets took a dim view of the deteriorating US fiscal outlook and rising geopolitical risk.
In fixed income, yields on longer-dated US Treasuries surged.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 18th May 2025.
Global equities surged last week, buoyed by an apparent thaw in trade tensions between the United States and China.
Under the provisional accord, recently imposed tariffs will be suspended for 90 days to allow further negotiations.
On the economic data front, US inflation showed signs of further moderation. Headline CPI rose 0.2% in April, driven mainly by housing costs, with the annual rate easing to 2.3% — its slowest pace since February 2021.
In the UK, economic data surprised to the upside.
Equity markets responded in kind. US stocks led global gains, rising over 5% on the week and the technology sector up 7.2%.
Meanwhile, the rally in gold paused. The precious metal declined for the third time in four weeks, falling nearly 5% to around $3,200 per ounce — retreating from its record high of over $3,400 set in April.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 4th May 2025.
Global equity markets continued their recent recovery over the week, as improving sentiment around global trade and positive corporate earnings took centre stage.
First-quarter corporate earnings in the United States are coming in ahead of expectations, helping lift equity markets despite renewed signs of economic fragility.
However, guidance for the second quarter has notably deteriorated. Corporates are flagging mounting headwinds, particularly around consumer demand and persistent trade uncertainties.
Economic data releases over the week were mixed.
In contrast, eurozone economic activity accelerated. Preliminary estimates showed GDP expanded by 0.4% in the first quarter, doubling the pace seen in the final months of 2024 and exceeding consensus forecasts.
The US labour market continues to hold firm.
Equity markets responded positively. US stocks rose almost 3% over the week, buoyed by strong tech sector earnings.
Oil prices came under renewed pressure, falling 7% after OPEC+ announced plans to increase production by 411,000 barrels per day in June.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 27th April 2025.
Global equity markets advanced last week, buoyed by signs that tensions between the United States and China may be easing. Sentiment was further lifted by speculation over potential near-term agreements with other trading partners, alongside comments from US President Donald Trump that appeared to soften his recent threats to dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
The technology sector led gains on Wall Street, with the S&P 500’s tech stocks surging nearly 8% over the week.
Elsewhere, the International Monetary Fund revised down its forecasts for global economic growth, citing risks stemming from heightened tariffs.
US equities rose 4.6% over the week, with the technology sector posting a standout gain of 6.7% following strong earnings reports.
US government bonds posted modest gains as yields declined across the curve, particularly at the longer end, with the 10-year Treasury yield closing near 4.26% on growing expectations of an economic slowdown.
In commodities, oil prices extended their losses for the year, slipping 1.2% over the week.
Looking to the week ahead, investor focus will turn to corporate earnings, with four of the so-called 'Magnificent Seven' tech giants set to report in the coming days.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 20th April 2025.
US stocks underperformed global markets in a holiday-shortened week, with investors still weighing the implications of Washington’s evolving stance on global trade tariffs.
The European Central Bank, as widely anticipated, trimmed its deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2.25%.
In the UK, inflation cooled more than expected in March, easing to 2.6% from 2.8% in February, below consensus forecasts of 2.7%.
Meanwhile, China’s economy delivered another upside surprise. GDP rose by 5.4% year-on-year in the first quarter, marking a second consecutive beat versus forecasts.
US equity markets shed 1.5% over the week, led lower by a 2.6% drop in the technology sector.
Fixed income assets continued to be a haven of safety for investors with the US 10 year treasury yield falling back to 4.33% and long duration US credit up almost 2% for the week.
In commodities, gold extended its winning run, rising for the sixth time in seven weeks.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 13th April 2025.
Following the prior week’s tariff shockwaves which unsettled global markets, US equities staged a spirited rebound, clawing back a portion of the steep losses incurred.
China was notably excluded from the temporary pause. Instead, the Trump administration pressed ahead with a series of escalating tariff hikes targeting Chinese imports, with some levies rising as high as 145%.
Despite fears that elevated tariffs might stoke inflationary pressures, the latest US Consumer Price Index print told a different story.
In equity markets, the Nasdaq posted one of its sharpest single-day gains on record, leading a broad-based rally that saw US stocks rise 5.7% over the week.
Bond markets were not immune to the week’s turbulence. US Treasuries sold off, with yields climbing across the curve.
Amid the geopolitical noise, earnings season kicked off on Friday with a slate of upbeat results from major US banks.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 6th April 2025.
US equities endured their sharpest weekly decline since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, with the S&P 500 hurtling towards bear market territory.
Tensions were ratcheted up on April 2nd, as President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping and unexpectedly aggressive set of reciprocal tariffs.
Despite the heightened volatility, Friday brought a surprisingly strong US jobs report.
For the week, US equities shed more than 9%, with the technology sector faring even worse — down over 10% — and now firmly in bear market territory, having fallen more than 20% year-to-date.
Safe-haven demand drove US 10-year Treasury yields down to around 4%, with long-duration investment-grade bonds rallying to deliver weekly returns of approximately 3%.
While further volatility appears likely as markets digest the implications of the tariff regime, investors would do well to remain calm.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 23rd March 2025.
US equity markets broke a run of weekly losses, eking out modest gains, while European bourses extended their strong start to the year.
The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its March meeting, maintaining the federal funds rate in the 4.25%–4.50% range for a second consecutive time.
Updated projections from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) suggest officials still anticipate two rate cuts in both 2025 and 2026, according to the so-called "dot plot".
Across the Atlantic, the Bank of England struck a more hawkish tone.
Meanwhile in Asia, the Bank of Japan opted to keep its short-term interest rate steady at 0.5%, as expected.
In China, economic data painted a more upbeat picture.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 16th March 2025.
US equities entered correction territory this week, as government bonds continued to outshine risk assets and gold soared to new record highs.
Trade tensions ratcheted higher after President Donald Trump announced a dramatic escalation in tariffs, slapping a 50% duty on Canadian steel and aluminium imports—double the originally proposed 25%.
Inflation data offered a mixed picture.
In Washington, a government shutdown was narrowly averted after Senate Democrats joined Republicans to pass a spending bill, extending funding through to the end of September.
Equity markets delivered broadly negative returns over the week, with US stocks shedding more than 2%, European indices down 1.2%, and UK equities slipping by over 0.5%.
Meanwhile, gold briefly breached the $3,000-per-ounce threshold for the first time on Friday morning, capping a remarkable rally that has seen the precious metal gain over 13% since the start of the year.
Much focus for the week ahead will be on the interest rate decisions of the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England and Bank of Japan. Whilst all are expected to hold rates, investors will eagerly await commentary around the path of future rate moves.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 9th March 2025.
Global financial markets faced significant volatility during the week, as escalating trade tensions and mixed economic data weighed heavily on investor sentiment.
U.S. equities experienced notable declines across major indices with the S&P 500 falling 3.1%, marking its sharpest weekly decline since September 2024.
Investors grappled with uncertainty stemming from President Donald Trump's announcement of increased tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China.
On the economic front, the U.S. added 151,000 jobs in February, slightly below expectations, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1% from 4% in January.
European stocks climbed on Thursday after the European Central Bank approved a rate cut for its sixth policy meeting in a row, taking the central bank rate to 2.5%.
Despite these moves European markets displayed mixed performances over the week.
Asian markets experienced gains, with Japanese equities rising by 1% and Chinese equities also up 1.4%.
In commodities oil prices declined, with WTI crude ending the week down 3.68%, amid concerns over global demand and potential oversupply.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 3rd March 2025.
US equities declined for a second consecutive week, as European stocks continued to outperform year-to-date and government bond yields retreated on concerns over the latest US economic data.
The highlight of the economic calendar came on Friday with the release of the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index—widely regarded as the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge.
On the corporate front, the latest earnings season delivered an upside surprise, with companies in the S&P 500 reporting an average earnings growth of 17.8% compared with the same quarter a year earlier, according to FactSet data.
The broader US market finished the week down 1%, with technology stocks bearing the brunt of the sell-off, sliding 3.5%. In contrast, European equities eked out a 0.6% gain, while UK stocks rallied 1.75%. Chinese markets struggled, shedding more than 2% over the week.
Most of the declines came on Friday following an escalation in trade tensions. President Trump announced fresh tariffs, slapping an additional 10% levy on Chinese imports effective 4 March, alongside 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
In fixed income markets, US Treasury yields fell to their lowest levels in nearly three months as investors digested the latest economic data.
Elsewhere, the recent sell-off in cryptocurrencies accelerated. Bitcoin dropped to around $84,500 by Friday, down roughly 12% on the week and 18% over the month.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 23rd February 2025.
Geopolitical tensions and trade policy took centre stage this week, with US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic overtures to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict competing for attention alongside his announcement of fresh tariffs on automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and lumber.
Economic data from the US painted a subdued picture, with business activity growth nearing stagnation.
In the UK, inflation data threw a spanner in the works for those anticipating swift monetary easing from the Bank of England.
Meanwhile, Japan’s economy continued to expand, with GDP growing at an annualised rate of 2.8% in the final quarter of 2024—the third consecutive quarter of expansion.
The week’s market movements reflected broader investor caution. In the US, equities fell 1.7%, with technology stocks bearing the brunt of the sell-off, dropping 2.5%. UK equities also struggled, declining 0.8% following the hotter-than-expected inflation print, while European markets eked out a modest 0.7% gain.
By contrast, mainland Chinese equities bucked the trend, with the CSI 300 Index rising 1.0% on the back of strong earnings from key technology firms.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 16th February 2025.
European equities extended their outperformance against their US counterparts over the past week, as investors digested a raft of fresh corporate earnings, the latest tariff announcements from US President Donald Trump, and a hotter-than-expected US inflation print.
Headline consumer price inflation (CPI) in the US rose 0.5% month-on-month and 3.0% year-on-year in January, picking up pace from December’s readings of 0.4% and 2.9%, respectively.
However, the rise in inflation was not confined to these components. Core inflation, which strips out the more volatile food and energy prices, ticked up to 3.3% from 3.2%, fuelled by rising costs across both goods and services.
Meanwhile, earnings growth for the S&P 493 (excluding the so-called Magnificent 7) is showing signs of acceleration after a two-year lull.
The UK economy eked out a modest 0.1% GDP growth rate in the final quarter of 2024, surpassing economists’ expectations after stagnating in the previous three-month period. The latest GDP figures, released on Thursday, arrived just a week after the Bank of England opted to cut its benchmark interest rate in response to a cooling inflation backdrop.
US equities closed the week with a 1.5% gain, driven by a 2.6% rise in the technology sector.
Elsewhere, gold surged to a record high during a volatile session in metals trading on Friday, briefly touching $2,964 before paring gains in the afternoon.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 9th February 2025.
Global stocks slipped to start the week amid the imposition of tariffs and subsequent trade negotiations involving the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China.
In fixed income, government bond yields eased further.
Across the Atlantic, the latest US non-farm payrolls report underscored the continued resilience of the labour market.
Wage growth is emerging as a key factor in the inflation outlook. Average hourly earnings rose by 4.1% year-on-year, outpacing forecasts of 3.8%.
The US corporate earnings season is now in full swing, with results broadly surpassing expectations.
Commodity markets, however, presented a more mixed picture. Oil prices fell for a third consecutive week, weighed down by escalating trade tensions and concerns over a potential softening in demand.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 2nd February 2025.
Global equity markets delivered a mixed performance this week as investors digested a slew of central bank announcements, corporate earnings updates from the world’s largest firms, and fresh economic data from the United States.
The US Federal Reserve wrapped up its first meeting of 2025 on Wednesday, opting—as widely expected—to hold its policy rate steady at 4.25% to 4.50%.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Central Bank (ECB) delivered a widely anticipated 25-basis-point rate cut, lowering its key deposit rate to 2.75%.
Corporate earnings took centre stage this week, with four of the "Magnificent 7" reporting results.
Tech stocks came under pressure early in the week, rebounding from Monday’s sharp sell-off, triggered by Chinese AI startup DeepSeek.
Looking at the broader picture, earnings for the S&P 500 are on track for 12% year-on-year growth, potentially marking the strongest expansion since 2021.
Fourth-quarter GDP data confirmed that the US economy remains on solid footing, with growth coming in at 2.3% annualised, just shy of expectations for 2.4%.
Elsewhere, geopolitical tensions flared as the US imposed fresh tariffs on trading partners.
It was a soft week for US equities, with the S&P 500 slipping 1%, though value stocks outperformed.
In the commodities space, gold surged over 1% to an all-time high, surpassing its previous record set three months ago.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 26th January 2025.
US equity markets soared to fresh record highs throughout the week as the inauguration of President Donald Trump took centre stage.
Among the most notable directives was a declaration of a national energy emergency aimed at reducing restrictions on fossil-fuel production and fast-tracking new energy infrastructure projects.
Following these developments, energy markets appeared unsettled, with oil prices dipping in response.
Trade policy also remained in the spotlight, although the much-feared wave of tariffs has yet to materialise.
President Trump also unveiled an executive order aimed at making the United States the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI).
On the corporate front, earnings offered further support to US markets. By Friday, fourth-quarter net income for S&P 500 companies was expected to rise by 12.7% compared with the same period last year, based on results already reported and projections for companies yet to announce.
For the week, US equities advanced 1.7%, while European shares gained 1.2%, buoyed by the absence of immediate tariff announcements.
In commodities, the rally in US crude oil came to a halt, with prices falling over 3% this week, snapping a four-week winning streak.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 19th January 2025.
Global equity markets rallied over the week, while bond yields eased as investors sifted through a host of macroeconomic data releases.
In the US, December's headline CPI climbed to 2.9% from 2.7%, driven by a surge in energy prices.
US corporate earnings season brought some cheer, with major banks beating expectations.
In the UK, inflationary pressures eased more than anticipated. Headline CPI for December slowed to 2.5%, down from 2.6% in November, fuelling speculation that the Bank of England could cut interest rates as early as February.
Germany's economic struggles continued, with GDP shrinking by 0.2% in 2024, marking a second consecutive annual contraction.
China’s economy grew by 5% in 2024, meeting government targets.
On equity markets, US value stocks led the way, with broad indices gaining just under 3% and technology stocks up 2.4%.
In commodities, oil prices continued their upward march, rising to their highest levels since August.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 12th January 2025.
Global equity and bond markets endured a bruising week as seemingly positive economic data from the United States cast a shadow over valuations in both asset classes.
U.S. job growth surprised on the upside in December, with nonfarm payrolls surging by 256,000, marking the strongest gain since March and comfortably outstripping economists' expectations of a 160,000 increase.
The robust jobs report has further cemented the view that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to alter interest rates this month, with markets now speculating that policymakers may limit rate cuts to a single instance this year. In response, U.S. Treasury yields soared, with the benchmark 10-year note touching 4.79%—its highest level in over 14 months—before settling slightly lower at 4.77% by the close on Friday.
Across the Atlantic, similar concerns reverberated through UK markets.
For the week, US equities sold off around 2% as investors adjusted to the potential for higher interest rates than previously forecasted.
U.S. crude oil prices notched their third consecutive weekly gain, closing in on the $77 per barrel mark on Friday.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s Titan International market review for the week ending 5th January 2025.
In a week shortened by the New Year holiday, equity markets broadly retreated, bond yields edged lower, and oil prices surged amid renewed concerns over global supply constraints.
Looking back at the year that has been, the S&P 500 ended 2024 on a high note, delivering its second consecutive annual gain of over 20%.
Meanwhile, 2024 proved tumultuous for bonds, as long-term yields climbed despite the Federal Reserve cutting its policy rate by 1%.
Looking at the week just been, Investor sentiment turned sour, partly driven by a revision to U.S. economic forecasts.
Adding to the gloom, corporate updates weighed on Wall Street.
Looking ahead, Wall Street will focus on the upcoming earnings season, with major U.S. banks kicking off reporting in mid-January.
Across global equity markets, U.S. stocks slid by 0.5% over the week, while European equities posted a modest gain of 0.2%.
Oil prices captured attention, with U.S. crude climbing over 4% for the week to settle near $74 per barrel—the highest level since mid-October.
That’s all for this week’s Titan International Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to titanwealthinternational.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 15th December 2024.
Global equity markets retreated over the week as US inflation ticked higher, the ECB cut interest rates, and the UK economy contracted for the second month in a row.
The release of November’s US Consumer Price Index (CPI) marked the final major economic indicator ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve meeting.
Headline CPI ticked up to 2.7% year-on-year, marking its second consecutive increase—something not seen in the last eight months.
Across the Atlantic, the European Central Bank (ECB) cut its key deposit rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3.0%, its fourth reduction this year.
Over in the UK, the economy is showing signs of strain after a strong start to the year.
With inflation in the services sector still stubbornly high, the Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates steady at its upcoming policy meeting.
Over the week US equity markets fell over 0.5% although growth outperformed value with US technology etching out a 0.5% gain.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 24th November 2024.
US equities led global markets this week, with the S&P 500 advancing around 2% as small-cap and value stocks outperformed growth counterparts.
Investor sentiment was buoyed by economic data from the US, where initial jobless claims fell unexpectedly to 213,000, the lowest level since April 2024.
Adding to the upbeat tone, nearly all third-quarter earnings results are now in, with S&P 500 companies on track to post an average year-over-year growth of 5.8%.
In the UK, inflation pressures mounted significantly in October.
Despite this, UK equities emerged as a standout performer among European markets, rising 2.5% over the week.
After a sharp decline the prior week, US crude oil prices rebounded, gaining more than 6% to trade above $71 per barrel on Friday.
In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin extended its record-breaking rally, climbing above $99,000 by week’s end.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 17th November 2024.
Global equity markets retreated for the week, giving back much of the previous weeks gains, as investors digested what the incoming US presidents proposed policies might mean for the global economy.
US consumer prices rose as expected in October, driven largely by higher shelter costs such as rents. The pace of progress toward lower inflation has slowed in recent months, potentially limiting the number of interest rate cuts the Federal Reserve may implement next year.
Underlying inflation remained slightly elevated, though expectations remain for a third rate cut from the Federal Reserve in December.
The UK economy slowed more than expected in the three months to September, with GDP growth slipping to 0.1% from 0.5% in the previous quarter.
The services sector, which grew by a modest 0.1%, provided little support, while the construction sector was a rare bright spot, expanding by 0.8%.
Major US retailers wrapped up earnings season, with S&P 500 companies on track to post a 5.4% increase in third-quarter earnings compared to a year earlier.
Over the week US equities fell around 2% with US technology falling over 3%. European equities followed suit, falling over 2% as concerns of the new US President’s trade policies unsettled investors.
Perhaps the most notable performance since the US election result has been that of Bitcoin.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 10th November 2024.
US equities surged to their best weekly performance in over a year, as a decisive result in the US presidential election lifted a cloud of uncertainty from the markets.
With Republicans securing control of the presidency, Senate, and potentially the House, the stock market responded with its strongest post-election rally on record.
The Federal Reserve’s latest policy decision underscored a more cautious approach, with a 25-basis-point cut bringing the federal funds rate to 4.5%-4.75%.
Across the Atlantic, the Bank of England mirrored the Fed’s gradual shift towards easing, lowering its key rate by a quarter-point to 4.75% amid falling inflation.
All major US equity markets hit record highs during the week, with Wednesday’s election results the catalyst for the move.
Meanwhile, US Treasury yields saw substantial volatility, with the 10-year yield surging briefly to 4.48% in mid-week trading before retreating to close around 4.30% on Friday, down from 4.37% the previous week.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 3rd November 2024.
In what began as a relatively subdued week for markets, Thursday saw a jolt of volatility, with stocks taking a tumble as fresh worries over the growth potential of technology shares and artificial intelligence rattled investors.
The third-quarter earnings season for S&P 500 companies is now in full swing, and results have so far delivered modestly positive surprises.
In the latest snapshot of the US labour market, October’s nonfarm payroll report disappointed significantly, with just 12,000 jobs added versus an expected 100,000.
Over in Europe, the eurozone economy notched up a 0.4% expansion in the third quarter—double the growth rate seen in Q2 and ahead of the 0.2% consensus forecast.
Eurozone inflation provided another key talking point. Headline inflation ticked up to 2% year-on-year in October, a slight acceleration from 1.7% in September, due in part to last year’s energy price declines dropping out of the comparison.
In the UK, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves unveiled the first Labour budget in 14 years, earmarking an additional £70 billion in spending over the next five years, funded through £40 billion in tax increases and £32 billion in further borrowing.
US equities shed over 1% for the week, reflecting concerns over tech sector valuations and rising bond yields.
Looking to the week ahead, markets will be bracing for several pivotal events likely to drive sentiment.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 27th October 2024.
Global equity markets experienced a sell-off last week amid a flurry of third-quarter corporate earnings announcements, while bond yields continued their upward trajectory, and oil prices saw a strong rally.
As we reach the midway point of third quarter earnings season, a handful of mega-cap technology giants in the U.S. are anticipated to drive the bulk of earnings growth.
Tesla, one of these tech behemoths, led the charge as last week’s top performer in the S&P 500, boosting the broader index and staving off a steeper decline.
Equities in the U.S. slid broadly by 1% over the week, with value and small-cap stocks hit hardest, dropping nearly 3%.
U.S. Treasury yields continued their ascent, with the 10-year note climbing for the fifth time in six weeks.
Finally, crude oil prices in the U.S. rallied almost 5% last week, reaching close to $72 per barrel by Friday afternoon.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 20th October 2024.
Equity markets edged higher over the week as investors navigated a mixed bag of corporate earnings from the US, a rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB), and a drop in UK inflation.
Nvidia, one of the globe’s top chipmakers, saw its share price surge to an all-time high, pushing its market value to an eye-watering $3.4 trillion.
As anticipated, the ECB lowered its key deposit rate by 25 basis points to 3.25%, marking the first back-to-back rate cut in 13 years.
In the UK, softer-than-expected inflation figures and a dip in wage growth have fuelled speculation that the Bank of England (BoE) will move to cut rates again, with a further 0.25% almost guaranteed at the upcoming November meeting.
Meanwhile, the latest data out of China painted a mixed picture.
US equities rose almost 1% over the week, led by the energy and utilities sector.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 13th October 2024.
The US equity markets surged to fresh record highs this week, while emerging markets, particularly China, saw a pause following their recent rally spurred by stimulus measures.
In the United States, inflation data revealed a modest increase. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.2% in September, matching the previous month’s rise.
On an annual basis, inflation eased to 2.4%—the smallest increase since February 2021—down from a 2.5% rise the previous month.
Also, during the week, earnings season began in earnest, with two major US banks posting strong third-quarter results, helping to lift their shares.
Following the recent rally in Chinese equities, China’s National Development and Reform Commission reiterated its commitment to ramping up countercyclical measures to support growth.
Across global markets, US equities rose more than 1% for the week, led by financial stocks.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 6th October 2024.
Tensions in the Middle East weighed on global equity markets for the week, as energy markets rallied and Chinese equities continued to gain momentum following the recent announcement of stimulus measures from the People’s Bank of China.
In September, the U.S. economy outpaced expectations by generating 254,000 new jobs, well above economists’ forecast of 140,000, marking the strongest performance in six months.
The robust labour market report has sparked speculation over its implications for Federal Reserve policy.
Wage growth, which remains elevated at 4.0% year-on-year, suggests that inflationary pressures are still a concern for policymakers.
US broad equities and technology both etched out small gains for the week, gaining momentum of Friday following the stronger than expected labour market report.
While weighing on sentiment generally, the prospect of a wider war in the Middle East sent oil prices to their highest level in about a month, benefiting energy shares as well.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 29th September 2024.
Global equity markets experienced a buoyant week, bolstered by fresh economic stimulus measures from China and softer-than-expected US inflation figures.
China’s central bank unveiled a series of initiatives designed to revitalise stock markets and provide support to its beleaguered property sector.
In Europe, equity markets notched solid gains, with the broader index reaching its previous highs.
Over in the US, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, revealed a gradual easing of price pressures.
US equities ended the week with modest gains, extending their winning streak to a third consecutive week. European stocks were buoyed by China’s policy announcements, rising 2.69%, while UK equities posted a gain of over 1%.
Meanwhile, US crude oil prices slid nearly 4% for the week, ending below $69 per barrel by Friday, a sharp drop from July's high of nearly $84, leaving oil prices little changed for the year.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 22nd September 2024.
Global equity markets saw a boost this week after the US Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate for the first time since March 2020.
While equity markets welcomed the rate cut, its scale may indicate a shift in the Fed's priorities—from controlling inflation to supporting economic growth.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the Bank of England (BoE) held its base rate steady at 5.0%, as widely anticipated, with the Monetary Policy Committee voting 8–1 in favour of maintaining the current rate.
UK inflation held steady at 2.2% in August, unchanged from July’s annual rate.
US equities rose around 1.5% for the week, with US technology nearing its historic highs once again.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 15th September 2024.
The major global stock indices staged a sharp recovery, posting weekly gains of between 3% and 6%, effectively reversing the steep losses seen the previous week.
Midweek, equity markets initially tumbled following the release of U.S. inflation data, which showed that core inflation (excluding food and energy) edged up by 0.3% in August—slightly above consensus forecasts.
Across the Atlantic, the European Central Bank (ECB) cut its deposit rate for the second time this year, lowering it by a quarter-point to 3.5%, in line with expectations.
US equities surged by over 4% for the week, led by a 6% rally in the tech sector.
Looking ahead, all eyes are on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting, concluding on Wednesday, where the central bank is widely expected to deliver its first rate cut since early 2020.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 8th September 2024.
U.S. stock indexes posted some of the steepest weekly declines in more than a year, as employment data from the US stoked economic growth concerns and AI champion Nvidia came under scrutiny from the Justice Department.
The latest U.S. labour market data confirmed a weakening trend. Early signals of this were evident in the job openings figures, which dropped to around 7.7 million, marking the lowest point this year.
The closely watched nonfarm payrolls report echoed this softer trend, showing only 142,000 new jobs in contrast to the anticipated 165,000.
Despite these concerning figures, the report wasn't all doom and gloom.
US equities fell over 4% for the week and US technology over 6% as the US labour data release increased concerns around economic growth.
The price of U.S. crude oil fell nearly 8% for the week to the lowest level in about 14 months, with the commodity trading for around $68 per barrel on Friday afternoon.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 1st September 2024.
Global equity markets etched out modest gains during a week which saw further signs of cooling inflation from the US and Europe, along with an eagerly anticipated earnings announcement from one of the world’s largest companies.
The most closely watched data point was probably the US Labour Department’s release of its core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index on Friday morning.
Headline annual inflation in the eurozone also decelerated to 2.2% in August from 2.6% in July, the lowest level in three years and a shade above the ECB’s 2% target. Higher energy costs a year ago were partly responsible for the decline.
In company news, Nvidia published another impressive set of quarterly earnings.
Over the week US equities were slightly positive, up around 0.2% whilst US Technology fell almost 1% driven in part by the volatility of Nvidia following their ‘great’ but ‘not quite good enough’ earnings announcement.
In commodities gold futures pushed their record levels higher for the fifth week in a row, and the commodity briefly topped $2,560 per ounce on Friday morning.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 25th August 2024.
Global markets demonstrated resilience this week, with the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Dow Jones all advancing by over 1%.
In his speech delivered at the Jackson Hole symposium, Powell signalled a potential shift in monetary policy, stating that "the time has come for policy to adjust."
Across the Atlantic, the Eurozone showed signs of economic momentum, with business activity picking up in August after stagnating in July.
In equity markets, U.S. stocks closed the week 1.4% higher, mirroring gains in European equities, as Powell's speech heightened expectations of an impending interest rate cut.
The increasing anticipation of interest rate cuts contributed to a volatile week for U.S.
In the commodities market, U.S. crude oil prices experienced a dip, with the price per barrel dropping to $71.46 on Wednesday—the lowest level in over six months.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this weeks AHR market review for the weeks ending the 16th August 2024.
The U.S. stock market saw a rebound, driven by optimistic inflation data and hopes for a potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September.
European equities benefitted from the improved sentiment surrounding U.S. inflation data, although economic concerns continued to persist.
In Asia, markets were more mixed. Japan saw a sharp market downturn earlier in the month following a surprise interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ), which sent shockwaves across global markets.
In commodities, oil prices continued to fluctuate due to geopolitical factors and supply constraints, especially as Russia and Saudi Arabia extended production cuts.
In summary, the week ended with market recovery in the U.S. and cautious optimism globally.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 4th August 2024.
An eventful week for markets saw a host of central bank rate decisions and volatility towards the back end of the week following unexpected employment data released from the US Labour Department.
The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to near a three-year high of 4.3% in July amid a significant slowdown in hiring, heightening fears the labour market was deteriorating and potentially making the economy vulnerable to a recession.
Whilst earlier in the week the US Federal Reserve meeting went as expected with rates held steady, the Bank of England cut its key interest rate by a quarter point to 5.00%, its first reduction to borrowing costs since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.
Companies representing nearly 40% of the S&P 500’s market capitalization reported second-quarter earnings during the week, including four of the Magnificent Seven—Microsoft, Meta Platforms (Facebook), Apple, and Amazon.com.
The US Technology index entered correction territory during the week as it has now fallen 10% from it’s recent high, down 3.4% for the week.
The shifting interest-rate outlook and fresh economic data fuelled a price rally for government bonds, sending the yield of the 10-year U.S.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 28th July 2024.
The S&P 500 and NASDAQ experienced their second consecutive weekly decline amid volatile trading, while the Dow Jones bucked the trend, marking its fourth straight weekly gain.
In a surprising turn, the U.S. economy expanded at a faster-than-expected pace in the second quarter, driven by robust consumer spending and business investment.
The increase in GDP was bolstered by inventory accumulation and heightened government expenditure.
The Commerce Department also released data on core personal consumption expenditures (PCE), excluding food and energy, which rose slightly more than expected by 0.2% in June.
The continued deflationary trend seems to have solidified market expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September.
As we progress through the second-quarter earnings season, approximately 41% of S&P 500 companies have reported results, with earnings on track to increase by 9.7% year-on-year, surpassing initial estimates of 9% growth at the end of the first quarter.
The most significant positive earnings surprises are emerging from the financials, energy, and healthcare sectors, rather than technology and other growth sectors.
US equities fell almost 1% for the week whilst US technology dropped off over 2%. As the rotation in US equities continues, US value rose over 0.5%.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review, for the week ending 9th August 2024
The global stock markets saw a week of heightened volatility, driven by a mix of economic data releases, central bank actions, and sector-specific developments.
In the United States, the three major indices — the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite — showed mixed performances, with only slight changes by the end of the week.
European markets were similarly unstable.
In Asia, the Japanese stock market was notably volatile, with the Nikkei 225 fluctuating throughout the week.
In China, the Shanghai Composite Index ended the week slightly lower as concerns over the country's economic growth continued to weigh on investor sentiment.
Indian markets also faced challenges during the week.
Commodities markets mirrored the unease in equities, with gold prices inching higher as investors sought safe-haven assets, with gold futures trading around $2,470 per ounce by the end of the week.
Overall, the week was characterized by cautious trading as investors grappled with mixed economic signals, central bank actions, and sector-specific developments.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 19th July 2024.
Stocks saw their worst week since April with major indexes under pressure amid a massive global software glitch that stranded flights, interrupted health care services, and interfered with business around the world.
A major factor in the underperformance of growth stocks was a sharp decline in chip stocks on following news that the Biden administration had told allies it was considering severe export curbs if companies such as Tokyo Electron and the Netherlands’ ASML Holding continued providing China with access to advanced semiconductor technology
The Russell 2000, an index of small cap stocks, surged 7.7% over the last two weeks.
Perhaps the most notable change last week was the CBOE’s Volatility Index which climbed 32% in a week.
European stocks followed their US counterpart and ended the week lower amid rising tensions between the US and China.
The European Central Bank (ECB) kept its key interest rates unchanged at 3.75%, as expected.
In the UK, headline inflation held steady at 2% in June, partly due to a meaningful decline in energy costs compared with last year.
Japan’s stock markets generated negative returns over the week, with the Nikkei 225 falling 2.7%, and the broader TOPIX Index down 1.2%.
In the currency markets, the US dollar index rose week over week against a basket of major currencies.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 14th July 2024.
The U.S. large-cap value stock index outperformed its growth benchmark counterpart for the week, eroding some of the growth style’s wide margin of year-to-date outperformance.
A major factor supporting many stocks appeared to be Thursday’s release of the US Labor Department’s consumer price index (CPI).
A driver of European stock performance in recent weeks has been local elections and during the week the second and final round of voting in France’s parliamentary elections delivered a hung parliament.
US value stocks delivered the strongest returns across US markets for the week posting a return of over 1.5% whilst broad US equities returned just under 1%. European equities ended the week 1.5% higher as investors welcomed lower-than-expected U.S.
Yields of government bonds dropped, as investors took Thursday’s inflation report as an indication that interest-rate cuts could be coming sooner rather than later.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 30th June 2024.
Global equity markets were mixed in a week that saw the end of June and the end of the first half of the year.
The first half of the year witnessed continued enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, propelling mega-cap technology names to deliver exceptional gains.
The technology and communication services sectors were at the forefront of performance, posting first-half returns exceeding 25%.
In economic news, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, decelerated to 2.6% year-on-year in May, marking its lowest annual rate in over three years.
US equities were mixed over the week, remaining near record highs.
Looking ahead, all eyes will be on the forthcoming monthly US labour market report, set to be released this Friday.
As we approach earnings season, which kicks off in mid-July with major banks reporting their second-quarter results, expectations remain buoyant.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Over the week global stock indexes rebounded from a modest setback the previous week, as US equity markets eclipsed record highs set last month.
The U.S. economy saw a substantial boost in May, adding 272,000 jobs, far exceeding the projected 180,000 gain.
Earlier in the week, the Bank of Canada became the first central bank among the G7 nations to cut interest rates in this cycle, reducing its policy rate from 5% to 4.75%.
US equities rose over 1%, whilst US technology rose 2.4% for the week as investors digested softening US economic data.
In commodities, the price of U.S. crude oil fell over 2% for the week to $75 per barrel, its lowest level in four months, after oil-producing countries announced plans for a more gradual phase-out of production cuts.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
The major U.S. stock indexes all declined snapping a string of five consecutive weekly gains that had lifted the indexes to record highs.
US inflation held steady in April, a troubling indicator for the Federal Reserve, suggesting that the persistent rate of price increases may endure longer than anticipated and raising doubts about the timeline for potential interest rate cuts.
The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index saw a 0.3% rise last month, mirroring the unchanged gain in March, according to the Commerce Department’s Friday report.
The US economy's growth in the first quarter was revised downwards, showing less robustness than initially estimated.
Meanwhile, headline inflation in the eurozone increased for the first time in five months, with the year-over-year rise in consumer prices ticking up to 2.6% in May from 2.4% in the preceding two months, surpassing a consensus estimate of 2.5%. ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane hinted at a potential reduction in borrowing costs at the forthcoming June 6 meeting.
On the global stage, the International Monetary Fund upgraded its forecast for China’s economic growth over the next two years yet cautioned that consumer-focused reforms are necessary to sustain high-quality growth
US equities fell 0.5% over the week whilst US technology fell over 1%, in part due to a disappointing earnings announcement from cloud software provider, Salesforce.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Equity markets were divergent over the week, as earnings announcements from one of the world's largest chipmaker’s masked further concerns around the future path for interest rates in the US.
One of the main factors behind the market's recent divergence has been the impressive performance of artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia.
As we near the end of this year's first-quarter earnings season, S&P 500 companies are expected to report solid earnings growth of 10%-11% for the year, a big leap from last year's mere 1% growth rate.
Over in the UK, inflation data revealed a slower-than-expected drop in consumer prices
Value areas of the US equity market fell over 2% during the week, though thanks in large to a rally in Nvidia, the broad US market remained flat for the week whilst US technology rose 1.4%.
The price of oil fell 2.3% for the week to its lowest level in more than three months as a report showed an increase in U.S. crude inventories.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Equity markets recorded a fourth straight week of gains and reached record highs, following the release of inflation data from the US that has investors once again betting that interest rate cuts may not be too far away.
The catalyst for the market moves over the week appeared to be the release of US inflation data in the form of the consumer price index (CPI).
Elsewhere in economic developments that supported this week's narrative, US retail sales plateaued unexpectedly in April, marking a stark contrast to the 0.6% increase seen in the preceding month.
Dealing with a very different economic dynamic, China has announced additional stimulus measures to rejuvenate its faltering property sector.
Looking at equity returns, US equities closed the week up 1.5% whilst US technology added over 2% for the week demonstrating greater sensitivity to the potential of rate cuts in the US as soon as September.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Equity markets rose for the third week in a row as quarter one earnings season draws to close and US markets once again get close to all-time highs.
With 90% of S&P 500 companies now having disclosed their earnings for the first quarter, the results have surpassed analyst predictions by a notable 8.5%, marking the most significant positive surprise since the third quarter of 2021.
Furthermore, profitability has seen an uptick after facing pressures throughout 2022 and part of 2023, largely due to a moderation in input-cost inflation.
Looking at monetary policy, the Bank of England (BoE) opted to maintain its base rate at 5.25%, following a 7-2 majority decision by its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at its recent meeting.
Over the week the US equities added around 2% and US technology rose over 1%.
Looking to the week ahead, all eyes will be on the US CPI release on Wednesday.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
In a week filled with US economic data, Fed rate decisions and corporate earnings announcements, global equity and bond markets edged higher.
The U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday and signalled it is still leaning towards eventual reductions in borrowing costs but put a red flag on recent disappointing inflation readings that could make those rate cuts a while in coming.
Key US employment data released during the week saw the U.S. economy add 175,000 jobs in April, notably below consensus estimates of 240,000 new payrolls.
Profits at some of the biggest technology companies continued to improve as earnings season neared an end.
Whilst the US fed rate announcement went largely as expected, the softer US labour data was received positively by markets and saw US equities record a 0.5% return for the week, with US technology adding 1.4%.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Equity markets staged a recovery over the week following the recent slump.
In the U.S., approximately a third of S&P 500 companies, accounting for 40% of the index's market cap, have reported their earnings for the first quarter.
Economic data from the U.S. painted a less rosy picture. The Commerce Department's preliminary estimate indicated that the economy grew at a meagre annualised rate of 1.6% in the first quarter, significantly trailing the anticipated 2.5%.
The Commerce Department also highlighted that core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation—which strips out volatile food and energy prices—climbed at an annualised 3.7% in the first quarter, outpacing expectations and exceeding the Federal Reserve's 2% target for sustainable inflation.
U.S. equities ended the week up by 2.7%, buoyed by strong earnings, with technology stocks particularly strong, rallying by 4.2%.
In fixed income markets, global yields increased over the week, reacting to the higher-than-anticipated U.S. inflation figures.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Stock markets suffered their third straight week of losses amid concerns about Middle East tensions and the likelihood of U.S. interest rates staying higher for longer.
In economic news, robust figures from the U.S. Commerce Department indicated that retail sales in March surged by 0.7%, significantly exceeding the expected 0.3%, and up from a revised 0.9% increase in February.
In the UK, consumer price inflation dropped to 3.2% in March, the lowest in two and a half years but slightly less than analysts had anticipated.
China reported a better-than-expected 5.3% economic growth for the first quarter of 2024, bolstered by a 6.1% increase in industrial output.
U.S. stock indices fell by 3% over the week, with technology stocks particularly affected, dropping by 5.5% as investors re-adjusted their rate expectations.
Yields of U.S. government bonds rose for the third week in a row as investors continued to rein in their expectations for near-term interest-rate cuts.
Oil prices experienced volatility, with U.S. crude briefly topping $85 per barrel due to the tensions between Israel and Iran.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Equity markets fell over the week following hotter than expected US CPI data and heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran’s attempted missile strikes on Israel.
Just one month ago markets had placed a high probability that the US Federal Reserve would cut its interest rates at it’s upcoming June and July meetings.
Later in the week stocks pulled back sharply, in the wake of reports that Iran was preparing to directly attack facilities on Israeli soil for the first time.
US equity markets fell 1.6% over the week, with small and midcap stocks fairing worse than mega-cap growth names.
In the wake of Wednesday’s inflation report, the yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rose to the highest level in five months, as it climbed as high as 4.59% at one point.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
In a week that capped off the end of the first quarter, equity markets finished slightly higher ahead of the Easter break.
In the latest dispatch from the economic front, the U.S. Federal Reserve's favoured barometer for monitoring inflation - the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index - has unveiled a more moderate ascent in consumer prices.
Meanwhile, a surge in consumer spending has led to an upward revision of the final quarter's economic expansion figures in the US.
US equity markets ended the holiday shortened week at record highs, finishing up 0.4%. European equities advanced 0.59% despite softer economic data from Germany suggesting slower growth throughout 2024.
On the commodities front, both gold and oil have continued their impressive performance, notching substantial weekly gains.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Global equity markets enjoyed a week of solid gains following a host of key Central bank meetings from around the world.
On Wednesday the US Federal Reserve held its March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and also released an updated set of economic projections.
A similar narrative was relayed in the UK as the Bank of England's rate-setters voted 8-1 to keep borrowing costs at their 16-year high of 5.25% on Thursday, as the two officials who had previously called for higher rates changed their stance.
In contrast, the Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the first time in 17 years, ending the world’s last remaining policy of negative rates.
All major US equity indices posted returns in excess of 2% over the week following the dovish tone set by the Federal Reserve.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 17th March 2024.
Inflation data from the US came in slightly above expectations, leading to a second week of declines for US equity markets whilst European equities etched out gains
The US consumer price index rose 0.4% last month after climbing 0.3% in January. Gasoline prices rebounded 3.8% after declining in January.
The producer price index (PPI) rose 0.6% in February, roughly double consensus estimates and the most in six months.
In the UK the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose from 3.8% to 3.9% in the three months to the end of January.
US equities finished the week marginally negative following mixed inflation data announcements.
Yields of U.S. government bonds rose as the latest inflation data produced a slight shift in the interest-rate outlook.
Looking to the week ahead the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at its meeting that concludes Wednesday, and Fed observers will watch for any clues about the timing of eventual rate cuts this year.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Global equity markets ended the week mixed as fixed income markets posted gains following key central bank announcements and US employment data that showed a healthy but slowing US labour market.
The U.S. nonfarm-jobs report last week was somewhat mixed but overall pointed to early signals of a U.S. labour market that is cooling.
In testimony before Congress, U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated the central bank's intention to cut interest rates at some point this year, provided inflation data continues to show continued easing.
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, in his last Spring Budget before a general election, unveiled a reduction in national insurance rates that would amount to a GBP 10 billion payroll tax cut.
US equities finished slightly lower for the week whilst US technology fell -1.2%. European equities rose 1.14% to record highs whilst the UK market fell 0.3%.
The yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond fell to its lowest level in five weeks.
In commodities, oil prices fell -2.7% over the week whilst the price of gold futures surged more than 6% to a record high of around $2,200 an ounce on Friday afternoon.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Equity markets continued to etch higher in a week where the Nasdaq joined the equity record club.
The US Commerce Department’s release of the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index was the main focus point of the week for investors.
The latest estimate of US GDP for quarter four 2023 showed the US economy increased at a 3.2% annualised rate last quarter, revised slightly down from the previously reported 3.3% pace.
US equities rose around 1% over the week alongside US technology stocks rising 1.7% as sentiment remains strong following a healthy quarterly earnings season.
In commodities the price of U.S. crude oil topped $80 per barrel on Friday, rising to the highest level in about four months.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Global equity markets posted another positive week of performance led by US technology stocks.
The earnings announcement from Nvidia saw the company smash earnings and revenue expectations, as well as providing positive guidance for the remainder of the year around demand for AI focused semi-conductors.
US equity markets continued to reach new highs over the week, rising 1.7%, driven by the bumper earnings announcement from Nvidia on Wednesday.
Within commodities, oil prices fell about 2%, reversing course from the prior week’s gain, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Looking to the week ahead, Wednesday’s scheduled release of an updated U.S. GDP estimate will be among the week’s most closely watched economic reports.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Global equity markets continued their strong start to the year, with nearly all major indices moving higher for the week whilst bonds declined as investors contemplate when central banks may begin cutting interest rates.
In the space of three weeks, slightly negative expectations for the current quarterly earnings season turned solidly positive.
Further suggestion that investors might have to wait for rate cuts came from the UK this week as a labour market update estimated the unemployment rate at 3.9% for the three months through November—lower than the 4.3% that the Bank of England forecast for the final quarter of 2023.
China’s consumer price index fell by 0.8% year on year in January, the fifth month that prices were either flat or falling, raising concerns that a deflationary cycle is becoming entrenched.
US equities increased 1.4%, US technology equities 2.3% for the week, as growth stocks continued to lead the markets rally following a strong quarter four earnings season so far.
The yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond climbed over the week to 4.17%, as Government bond yields continued their rise since the start of the year.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Central bank decisions and major corporate earnings announcements were under the spotlight during the week as equity markets continued their strong start to the year.
On Wednesday the US Federal Reserve’s policy-setting committee kept benchmark interest rates in the 5.25%-5.50% range and announced that rate cuts would not be appropriate until there is "greater confidence that inflation is moving" towards the central bank's 2% target.
The Bank of England (BoE) also held its key interest rate steady at an almost 16-year high of 5.25% but appeared to signal that it would consider lowering it for the first time since consumer price inflation accelerated after the coronavirus pandemic.
While the Fed rate announcement produced no surprises, that wasn't the case for the latest US jobs report. The US economy added 353,000 payrolls in January, double the consensus estimate.
In a busy week, some of the world’s largest companies announced their fourth-quarter earnings reports, with several releases from heavily weighted tech giants driving movements in the major benchmarks.
US equities rose over 1% for the week, marking the 13th positive result out of the past 14 weeks.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
US equity markets etched higher to new record highs over the week, as global equity markets rallied following positive US economic data, European Central Bank comments and the announcement of Chinese economic stimulus.
U.S. economic growth continues to surprise to the upside. Fourth-quarter GDP growth in the U.S. came in at 3.3% annualised, well above expectations of 2.0% growth.
The ECB kept its key interest rates at current record highs of 4% at last weeks policy meeting and confirmed that it would keep monetary policy at restrictive levels for as long a necessary.
US stocks closed the week up 1.1% as investors digested the implications of more positive economic growth and inflation data.
An upside surprise in weekly jobless claims on Thursday helped balance out some of the strong economic readings, leaving the benchmark 10-year U.S.
U.S. crude oil climbed nearly 7% for the week as the price reached $78 per barrel, the highest level in almost two months.
Looking to the week ahead investors will be watching closely the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate announcement on Wednesday and earnings results released by some of the US markets largest constituents, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Despite volatility increasing into the start of 2024, US equity markets pushed ahead to new record levels over the week, supported by a rally in technology and communication services.
Chances of a rate cut by the US Federal Reserve in March fell sharply over the week, from 81% to 47%, according to futures markets data.
UK inflation data surprised to the upside for the month of December with the annual rate ticking higher to 4.0% from 3.9% in November, the first increase in 10 months.
US equity markets pushed to all time highs over the week, up 1.2%, with US technology adding 2.3%.
Moving into the week ahead investors will be keeping a close eye on the release of fourth quarter US GDP growth and PCE inflation data released over the week.
One area that is likely to support lower inflation data in the year ahead is that of shelter and rent.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Equity and bond markets posted positive returns over the week despite a higher than expected inflation reading from the US.
The main focus of the week was the release of US CPI data, which showed an annual increase of 3.4% in December, slightly higher than the previous months reading of 3.1%.
Over half of the overall increase in inflation was attributed to shelter costs.
As earnings season in the US begins, banks kicked off, with three of the biggest institutions reporting that fourth-quarter net income fell relative to the same quarter a year earlier.
In the US equity markets closed the week within touching distance of their all time highs, posting a 1.8% return and 3.1% for the US technology sector.
Fixed income investors appeared unmoved by the modest upside surprises in the consumer inflation data, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note falling back below 4% over the week.
Heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East fuelled a modest rally in oil prices on Friday. U.S. crude was trading around $73 per barrel, up from a recent low of around $68 on December 12.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
After a run of nine consecutive weeks of gains, the momentum of global equity markets was finally broken in the first week of 2024 as markets posted a weekly decline.
Key employment data from the US during the week showed that the U.S. economy added 216,000 new jobs last month, exceeding most economists’ expectations and producing the biggest monthly gain in three months, while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7%.
A rotation within US equities was witnessed during the first week of trading in US markets, as areas such as utilities, energy and consumer staples outperformed.
The yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond climbed back above 4.00%, closing the week at 4.04% and snapping a string of three weekly declines, as positive economic data fuelled concerns that the U.S.
In contrast to equities and bonds, oil prices ended the week up 3.2%, with WTI Crude at $73.91 per barrel.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review.
Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 17th December 2023.
Equity markets continued their strong end to the year, spurred by the prospect of near-term interest rate cuts, as several indexes reach levels close to their all-time highs.
The U.S. Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a range of 5.25% to 5.50% for its third meeting in a row but indicated that it’s likely to shift soon to a more accommodative stance.
While there was uncertainty ahead of the meeting around what the Fed's new set of economic projections would reveal, particularly around the path of interest rates, the Fed did not disappoint the markets.
The European Central Bank and Bank of England followed suit and kept their rates on hold.
In the UK, the central bank confirmed that rates would be elevated for an “extended period of time” to curb inflation.
US equity markets climbed nearly 3% over the week on the revised expectations for interest rate cuts throughout 2024.
The shifting interest rate outlook sparked a price rally in the bond market, sending yields lower.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. We will be taking a break from recording over the festive period, so thank you for listening this year and we look forward to keeping you informed again as we move into 2024.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Equity markets recorded another positive week as the strong end to the year continues, US equities recording their sixth straight week of gains and reaching their highest levels so far this year.
The U.S. economy added 199,000 jobs in November, slightly more than expected, with the unemployment rate falling to a four-month low of 3.7%.
Ratings agency Moody’s cut its outlook on China’s government debt from stable to negative citing concerns with an economic slowdown and property crisis.
Over the week US equities etched out a 0.2% gain, with US technology rising 0.7%. European equities advanced for a fourth consecutive week, ending 1.3% higher and UK equities added 0.3%. Japan’s stock markets lost ground over the week, falling 3.4%, as speculation about Bank of Japan policy normalization saw the yen strengthen against the U.S. dollar to its highest level in nearly four months.
The data on US job openings seemed to drive a continued decrease in long-term interest rates over much of the week, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S.
The price of U.S. crude oil slipped below $70 per barrel on Wednesday to the lowest level in more than five months.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Global equity markets continued their strong rally during the week in what was a holiday shortened week for US markets, as they observed Thanksgiving celebrations on Thursday.
Business growth forecasts in the US suggested a larger than expected decline in activity for manufacturing firms whilst U.S. sales of existing homes in October fell almost 15% from the same month a year ago to the lowest total in 13 years.
On the corporate front, with nearly all third-quarter results in as of Friday, companies in the S&P 500 are expected to post an average earnings gain of 4.3% over the same quarter a year earlier, the first period of earnings growth since quarter three 2022.
US equities posted gains of 1% for the week as growth stocks continued their outperformance of value equivalents.
Strong demand at US Treasury auctions helped drive down the US 10 year Treasury yield to its lowest level in over 2 months at 4.37%, although yields widened before the week was out.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Markets were buoyed over the week by cooling inflation data from the US, boosting the likelihood that the US Federal Reserve may be at the end of their interest rate hiking programme.
After a brief acceleration in late summer, US inflation resumed its downward trajectory in October.
However, housing costs, which accounted for more than 70% of inflation last month, remain an issue having risen by 6.7% over the past year.
UK inflation also slowed more sharply than expected to 4.6% in October, its lowest level since 2021, thanks to a retreat in energy prices.
U.S. stock indexes climbed for the third week in a row as both broad US equities and US technology equities posted returns of more than 2%.
The cooling inflation signals led to another drop in long-term US Treasury yields, with the benchmark 10-year note touching around 4.40% on Friday, its lowest level since mid-September.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
In a week where the USA’s credit outlook was lowered to negative, equity markets broadly finished the week higher led by growth stocks.
As the majority of major earnings announcements for quarter three come to an end, data from LSEG states that of the 455 companies in the S&P to report earnings, 81% reported above analysts expectations, with earnings growth across the index expected to be 6.3% for the quarter.
Over the week US Technology stocks added more than 2%, whilst broad US equities rose more than 1%, following some upside surprises for Q3 earnings from some of the indices big tech names.
Shifts in the interest-rate outlook continued to drive fixed-income markets as U.S. government bond prices reversed course, retreating in the wake of a rally the previous week.
Oil prices fell for the third week in a row to the lowest level since mid-July as mixed data on the global economy raised concerns about demand for oil.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Equity markets posted one of their biggest weekly gains of the year as key central bank rate decisions and cooler than expected US labour data drove markets forward.
Early last week, the US Federal Reserve unanimously voted to maintain its benchmark interest rate at a range of between 5.25% and 5.5%, a 22-year high.
Another key decision during the week saw the Bank of England hold interest rates at a 15-year peak on Thursday and rule out cuts any time soon as it fights to "squeeze out of the system" the highest inflation of the world's big rich economies.
Late last week the US labour department's closely watched employment report showed the US unemployment rate rising to 3.9% last month, the highest level since January 2022.
On the back of the US Fed rate pause and softer than expected labour data, US technology stocks surged 6.6%, whilst the broader US market added 5.9%.
Fixed Income markets also rallied off the back of the week’s key events, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Equity markets entered correction territory over the week, falling over 10% since their mid-July highs, despite stronger than expected economic growth and corporate earnings announcements.
Economic news during the week was highlighted by a stronger than expected US gross domestic product report, which showed that the U.S.
Also in the US, inflation data showed continued signs of cooling with the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, which is the US Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, falling to 3.7% in September from 3.8% in the prior month.
After three consecutive negative quarters, corporate earnings are on track to return to growth in the third quarter and are expected to improve further through 2024, with third quarter year on year earnings expected to be up 4.3%.
US equities fell over 2% for the week, despite positive economic and corporate announcements. European equities ended 0.9% lower amid uncertainty about interest rates, the economy, and conflicts in the Middle East whilst the UK equities also lost 1.5%.
In commodities, oil prices fell 2.3% despite continued geo-political tensions in the Middle East whilst gold etched out a small gain over the week as demand remained strong amongst an uncertain macro-economic backdrop.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Over the last week markets endured a choppy period in which bond yields moved higher and equity markets moved lower.
Another key driver of higher US Treasury yields has been the expanding Government deficit, as increased fiscal spending has enlarged the need for Government funding through debt issuance.
In the UK consumer price inflation unexpectedly held at 6.7% in September, remaining the highest of any major advanced economy and keeping alive the possibility of another rise in interest rates.
Subdued expectations for US earnings season were scaled back slightly as a second week’s batch of quarterly results came in.
US equities fell, 2.5% over the week whilst US technology also fell, 3.2%, and almost re-entered bear market territory as it finished 19.5% lower than it’s 2022 peak.
The US 10-year Treasury yield crossed 5% during the week whilst European government bond yields also broadly climbed as investors weighed the prospect that interest rates could remain higher for longer due to sticky inflation.
Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, oil rose 2.2% over the week to close at $89 per barrel whilst the price of gold rose more than 3% to the highest level in five months.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
AHR CIO, Iain Ramsay is joined by LGT’s Chief Investment Officer, Sanjay Rijhsinghani and Head of International Investments, Rohit Ahluwalia to discuss investment markets across Quarter 3 2023 and looking ahead to the rest of the year.
For more info click link.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Equity markets were mixed for the week as investors digested inflation data, economic growth forecasts and dovish comments from members of the US Federal Reserve.
Economic growth looks set to slow in the coming year as the International Monetary Fund kept its global growth forecast for 2023 unchanged at 3% but cut its 2024 forecast to 2.9% from 3.0%.
In the US the September inflation reading, released last week, was slightly hotter than expected and served as a reminder of the upside risks to rates.
Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase kicked off third quarter earnings season in the US, with each one exceeded analysts’ expectations for net income and revenue.
Major US equity indices posted fractional gains for the week of around 0.4%, whilst US Technology fell 0.2%.
Yields of U.S. government bonds modestly retreated as the 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.63% due to demand for safe-haven assets after last weekend’s escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine.
Oil prices rallied 5.9% over the week on concerns that the Israel-Palestine conflict could see future production and transport disruption.
That’s all for this week’s AHR Weekly Podcast. Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Equity market performance was mixed over the week as investors looked to Friday’s US jobs data for signs of how resilient the US labour market has been and what that might mean for interest rate expectations moving forward.
The U.S. labour market’s resilience continued to dampen the near-term prospects of a recession, as the gain of 336,000 jobs in September was the biggest in eight months and roughly double the number that most economists had been expecting.
US equities posted a small gain for the week whilst US technology recorded an almost 2% gain.
The higher for longer narrative around interest rates continues to weigh on fixed income markets as they endure one of their worst periods on record.
Prospects of lower global demand for petroleum weighed on oil prices, and U.S. crude dropped to around $83 per barrel for a nearly 9% weekly decline, the biggest since March 2023.
Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Despite continued signs of cooling inflation, nervousness around the potential of a US Government shutdown dominated market sentiment through much of the week.
After markets closed, the U.S. Congress passed a stopgap funding bill late on Saturday with overwhelming Democratic support to fund the government until November 17th.
There was more positive economic news as underlying U.S. inflation moderated in August, with the annual rise in prices excluding food and energy falling below 4.0% for the first time in more than two years, welcome news for the Federal Reserve as it ponders the monetary policy outlook.
Key housing data releases pointed to a slowdown in residential property in the US and UK.
Ahead of third-quarter earnings season, more U.S. companies have scaled back their earnings-per-share expectations than raised them.
On the whole September was a poor month for equities, with the US market falling nearly 5%.
The higher for longer rate narrative continued to weigh on government bond yields as the 10-year Treasury yield jumped above 4.6% at one-point last week, its highest since 2007.
Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
Throughout the week, the primary focus of markets revolved around US inflation data, as investors eagerly sought clues regarding the potential conclusion of the Federal Reserve's rate hiking programme in the coming months or if in indeed it has already concluded.
Wednesday's highly anticipated release of the US August Consumer Price Index (CPI) data revealed that the Federal Reserve has made progress in its battle against inflation.
In Europe, the European Central Bank (ECB) raised interest rates for the 10th consecutive time and hinted at the possibility of nearing the end of its monetary tightening campaign.
In the UK, the economy contracted more quickly than anticipated in July due to factors such as worker strikes, adverse weather conditions, and increasing borrowing costs, according to the Office for National Statistics.
During the week, US equity markets initially declined in anticipation of the CPI release, then rallied after robust retail sales data, but later pared gains on Friday due to auto worker strikes and increased volatility.
With inflation and interest rates taking center stage, the yield on the 10-Year US Treasury increased to 4.32% following a strong CPI report and better-than-expected retail sales.
The price of U.S. crude oil climbed for the third consecutive week, surpassing $90 per barrel on Thursday for the first time since November of the previous year.
To hear more click the link.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
In a reversal of last week’s opening, this week was one in which we saw good news for the economy being digested as bad news for markets.
U.S. stocks on Wednesday sustained their biggest setback of a holiday-shortened week after an economic report fuelled fears that inflationary pressures could be regaining momentum, potentially leading to further interest-rate increases.
In corporate news, a decline in Apple, the most heavily weighted stock in the S&P 500 Index, drove part of the market declines after news that Chinese government employees would no longer be able to use iPhones.
In the UK, Governor Andrew Bailey said on Wednesday, the Bank of England is "much nearer" to ending its run of interest rate increases but borrowing costs might still have further to rise because of stubborn inflation pressures.
The US jobless numbers sparked a rise in short-term bond yields, with the yield on the two-year U.S.
In equities, the major U.S. stock indexes fell between 1% to 2%, giving up most of the ground they had gained in the previous week.
Meanwhile in commodities, the price of U.S. crude oil rose on Friday to the highest level since last November, eclipsing $87 per barrel.
To hear more click the link.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
The week appeared to be one in which bad news for the economy was considered good news for stock prices, given the interest rate implications...
US non-farm payrolls expanded by 187,000, modestly surpassing the consensus estimate of a 170,000 increase..
In response to cooling labour market conditions, financial markets continued to anticipate a pause in the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes..
Across the board, major US large-cap stock indexes reported weekly gains, with the NASDAQ and S&P 500 leading the way, up by 3.2% and 2.5%, respectively, while the Dow Jones gained 1.4%..
After surging above 5.00% the previous week, the yield on the 2-year US Treasury bond retreated..
In the realm of commodities, oil prices surged during the week, with WTI prices climbing by 7.6%, driven by positive stimulus announcements from China..
To hear more click the link.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
During the past week, remarks made by Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, added to speculation surrounding the trajectory of interest rates, prompting investors to analyse potential outcomes.
At this year's Jackson Hole symposium, Chair Powell addressed the speculation that the Federal Reserve might tolerate or raise its inflation target, a notion proposed by some academics and market participants.
The Federal Reserve is prepared to further increase interest rates if necessary, aiming to maintain higher borrowing costs until inflation shows sustained progress towards the central bank's target.
Economic indicators revealed a deceleration in U.S. economic activity during the week.
In corporate earnings news, Nvidia, an American chipmaker, reported remarkable revenue of $13.5 billion in the second quarter of 2023, doubling its earnings from the corresponding period of the previous year.
U.S. equities concluded the week with a 0.8% increase, with the technology sector driving a 2.3% gain, largely attributed to Nvidia's strong earnings report. In Europe, stocks climbed 0.66%, aided by a drop in European natural gas prices and increasing expectations of a potential peak in interest rates.
After reaching its highest intraday level since late 2007 on Tuesday, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note retraced to end the week with relatively little change at 4.24%. Eurozone bond yields decreased, with 10-year German sovereign yields finishing lower.
To hear more click the link.
On this week’s AHR Market review..
The primary U.S. stock indices experienced a decline of over 2%, with both the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ marking their third consecutive weekly drops.
In the UK, the annual inflation rate eased in July to 6.8% from June's 7.9%, primarily due to decreased energy and food costs.
The UK's wage growth picked up speed, intensifying the pressure on the Bank of England (BoE) to further raise interest rates.
In the real estate sector, Country Garden, a prominent Chinese developer, incurred a loss of $7.5 billion in the first half of the year and halted trading of certain bonds after missing coupon payments earlier in the month.
China's central bank reduced its medium-term lending-facility rate to 2.5%, marking the second cut in three months, as new economic data highlighted China's faltering economy.
The global equity markets mirrored the decline in the U.S., with international equities mostly following suit.
Within the Fixed Income market, the yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond briefly surpassed 4.32% on Thursday, reaching its highest level since November 2007.
To hear more click the link.
On this week’s AHR Market review
As the second-quarter earnings season in the US picked up momentum, optimism surrounding moderate inflation's potential to avert a severe recession propelled equity markets higher for the week
Last week saw stocks continuing their upward trajectory, building on the impressive gains of 2023, bringing the S&P 500 within 6% of its all-time high
In the UK, inflation in June fell to its slowest pace in over a year, leading to a weaker pound against other currencies and a lift in the stock market.
China reported that its economy grew at an annual rate of 6.3% in the second quarter of the year.
In the US, value stocks outperformed growth stocks, with the Dow Jones rising 2.1% and the S&P 500 climbing 0.7% over the week
To hear more click the link.
On this week’s AHR Market review
During a week where US inflation data came in lower than anticipated, there was a surge in global equity and fixed income markets as hopes were reignited regarding an eventual end to monetary policy tightening.
In June, US consumer prices experienced a modest increase, marking the smallest annual rise in over two years as inflation continued to subside.
As market attention shifts to the second quarter earnings season, top banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo reported results that largely exceeded Wall Street expectations in terms of both revenue and income.
Chinese economic growth notably slowed down in the second quarter, with GDP rising by 0.8% compared to the 2.2% surge witnessed in the previous quarter following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the realm of stock markets, US stocks rallied between 2% and 3%, and European equities closed the week 2.95% higher, marking the largest weekly gain in approximately three-and-a-half months.
The latest inflation data from the US eased concerns about the pace of future interest rate hikes, leading to a reversal in the sharp rise of government bond yields observed in the previous week.
To hear more click the link.
On this week’s AHR Market review
US markets were closed Tuesday for the Independence Day holiday, stocks generally closed the week lower in a fairly quiet week
The main focus for the week was on US job reports, which offered mixed signals as to the strength of the labour market.
Over the week, the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ slipped around 1% and the Dow fell nearly 2%. STOXX Europe 600 Index fell 3.09% on fears that central banks might need to keep tightening monetary policy, whilst The UK’s FTSE 100 Index dropped 3.65%.
Renewed worries about the outlook for more interest-rate increases sent yields of U.S. government bonds higher for the second week in a row.
To hear more click the link.
AHR CIO, Iain Ramsay is joined by LGT’s Chief Investment Officer, Sanjay Rijhsinghani and Head of International Investments, Rohit Ahluwalia to discuss investment markets across quarter 2 2023 and looking ahead to the rest of the year.
For more info click link.
On this week’s AHR Market review
The NASDAQ recorded its best first half of the year in 40 years as it rose 32%, led by a handful of large technology companies.
The latest reading on first-quarter US GDP was released last week, showing the economy grew by a better-than-expected 2% to start the year, powered primarily by a jump in personal consumption.
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge for tracking inflation showed that consumer prices rose in May at the slowest monthly pace in two years.
Manufacturing activity in China contracted for a third straight month in June.
The major U.S. stock indexes regained the ground they had lost the previous week as generally positive economic data lifted the S&P 500, the NASDAQ, and the Dow more than 2% each.
To hear more click the link.
On this week’s AHR Market review
The major U.S. stock indexes each fell more than 1%, breaking a run of eight consecutive weekly gains for the NASDAQ...
Stocks had been moving higher, with big tech companies taking the lead, for much of this month.
In equity markets, in the US the Nasdaq was down 1.4% for the week and the S&P 500 Index also 1.4% lower, whilst the Russell 2000 fell nearly 3% for the week as recession fears weighed on small caps.
U.S. Treasury yields ended lower for the week, with the 10 year yield at 3.72%. In the UK..
To hear more click the link
On this week’s AHR Market review
A week after entering a bull market, the S&P 500 recorded its fifth positive weekly result in a row.
A key measure of U.S. inflation fell to 4.0% in May to record the lowest annual rate in more than two years.
US equities rose 2.6% over the week, whilst technology stocks were up 3.2%, having risen by over 30% since their most recent low point in December of last year.
To hear more click the link
On this week’s AHR Market review
US equities rise by 20% from their most recent low point
Government bonds sell off as central banks keep ratcheting up rates
Crude oil remains flat despite Saudi announcing a cut in production
Early signs of a slowdown in the US service sector
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Signs point to Fed pause and congress approves deal on raising the debt ceiling
Global Government Bonds Rally
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Equities rise as hopes to a resolution over the US debt ceiling rise.
Haven assets fall as worries over a US government default recede.
European natural gas prices tumble further, close to their long run average price.
Mixed economic data provides little clues as to the next rate move by central banks.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Latest Fed Hike may lead to pause on rates
US banking sector chaos continues
Markets post modest declines for the week
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On this week’s AHR Market review
**U.S. GDP report confirmed that the economy is losing momentum
Markets get a boost from better-than-feared corporate earnings results
US Markets lead weekly returns
Government Bond Yields Endure volatile week**
To hear more click the link
On this week’s AHR Market review
Fear gauge hits lowest level since late 2021
Corporate Earnings dominate market focus
Global Equities flat for the week
Government Bond Yields Rise
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Indications of a cooling labor market.
ECB's Lagarde, de Guindos, and Lane suggest more rate hikes; others believe rates are
approaching their peak.
EU house prices drop for the first time in eight years; producer prices decline for the fifth consecutive month.
BoE's Pill suggests May rate decision could be a close call.
To hear more click the link
On this week’s AHR Market review
Relative calm helped to lift equity markets, whilst haven assets gave back some of their recent gains.
European inflation data benefits from weaker energy prices.
Crude oil stages a rally as recession fears abate.
Whilst the Yen and the Dollar weaken as calm returns to markets.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Banking sector turmoil continues.
All eyes on the Federal Reserve.
UK inflation unexpectedly rises.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Financial authorities step in to stem fears of contagion in the banking sector.
ECB raises rates by 0.5%, whilst expectations for future US hikes moderate.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
The FED threatens to reaccelerate rate increases if inflation persists.
Gold drops.
Issues under discussion.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Global equities rise, despite US Treasury yields rising to 4% and further data suggesting sticky inflation.
Bond markets flash recession warning, as US Treasury yield curve inversion strengthens.
Eurozone inflation surprises to the upside, with core inflation rising further.
Chinese manufacturing sector benefits from the end to zero covid policies.
To hear more click the link
On this week’s AHR Market review
Sticky US inflation causes bond yields to rise.
US central bank governors support high interest rates.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Investors weigh up the prospect of further interest rate rises.
UK narrowly avoids recession.
Government Bonds also sell off.
Oil price rises after Russia cuts production output.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
US rate rises moderated once more, spurring on a rally in US equities.
Bond Markets rally too.
Commodity prices fall.
Issues under discretion.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Moderating US rate expectations and an improving outlook for China helps to drive equities higher.
Bond markets continue to signal an impending recession in the West.
Fourth quarter US GDP exceeds expectations despite the sharp rise in rates.
European natural gas prices continue to fall sharply.
The FED's preferred measure of inflation due for release this afternoon.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Weaker economic data weighs on Wall Street
Asian markets fare better
Safe-haven bonds rally
Oil continues its rise driven by China reopening
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On this week’s AHR Market review
US inflationary pressures ease, setting equity and bond markets up for a rally
Hong Kong stocks close to a 50% rise since their 2022 low
Easing Covid restrictions in China supports rising commodity prices
US dollar weakens as rate expectations abate, boosting liquidity in financial marketsTo hear more click the link
On this week’s AHR Market review
US stocks rallied for second consecutive month
The US dollar weakens against major currencies.
Government bonds extend gains.
Crude Oil prices strengthen after a string of weekly declines.
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Markets rally on rising hopes of moderation in rate cycle
Yield curve inversion deepens as recession fears grow
Oil price falls on rumours of supply increase
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On this week’s AHR Market review
US equities record their strongest day in over two years
Global markets rally on the back of softer US inflation
Gold rises as US rate expectations rollover
Republican ‘red wave’ fails to materialise in US mid-terms
On this week’s AHR Market review
US equities record their strongest day in over two years
Global markets rally on the back of softer US inflation
Gold rises as US rate expectations rollover
Republican ‘red wave’ fails to materialise in US mid-terms
On this week’s AHR Market review
US Federal Reserve signals shallower, but higher rates
US equities tumble whilst gains made elsewhere
bond market points further towards recession
Sterling takes the pain as the Bank of England forecasts recession
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Technology names disappoint in earnings season.
The European Central Bank raises interest rates as expected.
UK bond market rallies as Sunak confirmed as UK PM
***European natural gas prices briefly drop below €100.
To Hear More Visit Ahrprivatewealth.com***
On this week’s AHR Market review
Mixed third quarter company results lead to choppy week in markets
Low US unemployment reinforces expectations of further rate hikes
UK borrowing costs fall after the abandonment of mini-budget
European natural gas prices continue to slide
To hear more visit www.ahrprivatewealth.com
On this week’s AHR Market review
Markets rally as UK government reverses on policy plans
Government bond rally fizzles out
Crude oil rises as Opec agrees production cutsTo hear more visit www.ahrprivatewealth.com
On this week’s AHR Market review
UK government bond turmoil ripples around the world
Domestic orientated UK equities feel the pain
Sterling rallies from its record low of $1.03
European natural gas prices fall, despite Nord Stream disruptionTo hear more visit www.ahrprivatewealth.com
On this week’s AHR Market review
Rising rates and conflict continues to take their toll
Government bonds continue to weaken
Sterling falls to a 37-year low versus the US dollar
Commodities continue to fall on recession concernsTo hear more visit www.ahrprivatewealth.com
On this week’s AHR Market review
Global equity markets end down for the fourth week in five
Core inflation not done yet
Recession fears hit the British pound
All eyes on rate announcementsTo hear more visit www.ahrprivatewealth.com
On this week’s AHR Market review
Markets snap three week losing streak
ECB raises rates to highest level since 2011
UK Government intervene in Energy Crisis
To hear more visit www.ahrprivatewealth.com
Global equity markets end down for the third week in a row.
Fed Committed to raising rates until the job done.
Yen hits lowest level against the dollar since 1998.
US mid-terms could offer hope for investors.
To hear more visit www.ahrprivatewealth.com
Markets continue to look for signs of an interest rate pivot in the US
Interest rate expectations gradually ratchet higher
UK retail energy price cap rises by 80%, with further rises forecast
Bad news is good news as US economic data shows continued signs of softeningTo hear more visit www.ahrprivatewealth.com
*Mixed economic data and company results have led to a similarly mixed week in markets
Dollar strength returns
UK inflation data leads to a selloff in short-dated government bonds
Crude oil slips further
Zero covid policy continues to take its toll on China’s economy
US housing market continues to soften, whilst employment picture remains robust*
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Softening inflation powers markets upwards
Tech stocks start on a weak note
Interest rates set to continue climbing
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Attention turns to US economic data
Geopolitical fears resurface
Hawkish comments hold back government bonds
Bank of England makes largest rate increase in 27 years.
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Equity markets set for their best month since late 2020.
Well received company earnings boost equity performance.
US economy in “technical” recession.
European gas prices jump higher .
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Equity markets rise as inflation expectations dampen
Government bonds rally
European natural gas prices remain elevated
Italian Prime Minister Draghi resigns,
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Welcome to this week’s AHR market review for the week ending 17th July 2022.
Further inflationary pressures drive the US dollar higher and markets down
US Yield curve inversion as markets price in a higher probability of recession risk
Commodity prices tumble in anticipation of demand destruction
Chinese slowdown continues against the background of a zero Covid policy
However, the upcoming Chinese elections provides hope for a better outlookThank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com
On this week’s AHR Market review
Equities recover as rate expectations fall
US yield curve inverts for the third time this year
Commodity prices continue to fall on rising recession fears
Government debt offers defensive characteristics once more
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On this week’s AHR Market review
Markets turn south on persistent inflation
China further relaxes Covid restrictions
US equities record their worst start since 1970
Recessionary fears take their toll on commodities
On this week’s AHR Market review
Equity markets move higher, despite recession uncertainty.
Inflation remains stubbornly high in the UK.
Recession fears prompt a rally in core government bonds…
Commodities prices decline on demand concerns
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**Markets fall further whilst inflation has yet to peak, triggering a more urgent response from central banks.
ECB convenes an unscheduled meeting as indebted Eurozone countries’ borrowing rates spike higher.
Bitcoin falls by close to 70% since its November peak.
Industrial commodity prices moderate on rising risk of recession.**Thank you for listening and for further investment insights head over to ahrprivatewealth.com
Most equity markets finished the week in negative territory as the news that China started to ease its Covid 19 restrictions gave way to continued fears over monetary policy tightening in the face of stubbornly high inflation. On Friday the latest US consumer price index is due for release, with forecasts of inflation remaining at 8.3% over the year to May, in line with April’s data. Markets are pricing in US interest rates to hit 2.8% by the year end, versus the current rate of 1.0% (range 0.75% to 1.0%) and exceed 3.0% next year.
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Stocks relinquished a part of last week’s solid gains as investors remained to doubt whether the Federal Reserve will be able to suppress inflation without triggering a recession. Industrials shares were the standout, assisted by an increase in Boeing.
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The US equity markets rose this week, following seven weeks of losses, as a number of economic data touch points signalled a softening in growth, whilst consumption continued to expand despite the high levels of inflation. This served to calm the markets’ view on rate increases, drawing investors back into equities.....
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US stocks continued their decline this week as results from two key grocery retailers, Walmart and Target, spooked investors, as inflationary pressures impacted their results, raising concerns that pricing pressures are taking their toll on the strength of the economy. The US stock market fell 4% on Wednesday, its biggest one-day loss since June of 2020. Unless there is a sharp bounce today, the US market will not have fallen for such a sustained period since 2001 when the dotcom bubble burst. However, outside of the US, where valuations are not so stretched, the picture was not so gloomy with many regions recording gains in equity markets over the week.
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A combination of slowing economic data and inflation took their toll on markets once again this week. On Monday, data released by China showed export growth had fallen to its lowest level in two years last month, whilst the latest US consumer price index remained stubbornly high, coming in at 8.3%, above forecasts of 8.1%. Whilst growth in the UK was up 0.8% for the first quarter, the data revealed a contraction in the economy for the months of February and March as the inflationary environment took its toll. Against this background, markets continued to reprice towards an environment of higher inflation, slowing growth and rising rates.
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It has been a volatile week for equities as markets fret over the potential for a policy error as central banks attempt to regain control over a sharp spike in inflation to levels not seen in forty years. On Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve raised rates by 0.5%, a quantum not used in over twenty years, whilst communicating to the market that the same should be expected over the subsequent two rate setting meetings.
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Expectations for interest rates were front and centre for markets this week, as Jay Powell, chair of the US Federal Reserve (Fed), said on Wednesday that it was appropriate to move quickly in order to control inflationary pressures, with a 0.5% rate increase in May a real possibility. Earlier in the week, the chair of the St Louis regional Fed said a rate increase of 0.75% could not be ruled out sometime this year. US Treasury yields, which move inversely to price, rose with the 10-year now yielding 2.93%. The market is pricing in US interest rates of around 2.8% by the end of the year, today they are in the range of 0.25% to 0.50%. Similarly, officials from the European Central Bank pointed to the possibility of a rate increase as early as July. It was only four months ago that Christine Lagarde, president of the ECB, said a rate rise in the Eurozone was very unlikely.
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Equity and bond markets fell this week as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) continued to communicate a desire to get ahead of inflationary pressures, with further tightening of monetary policy through rate rises and a rapid withdrawal from the bond purchasing programme. This coincided with further sanctions being taken against Russia by the US and Europe, raising concerns that this could further pressure consumer prices higher. Inflation across much of the OECD rose 7.7% for the year to February, versus 1.7% in the same month last year. Whilst energy has been by far the largest contributor, with the annual rate of inflation running at 27%, there is evidence that this is increasingly trickling through to other areas, with food inflation having increased by 8.6% for the year to February....
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The major indices ended mixed over a holiday-shortened week, which saw the release of the first major corporate earnings reports of 2022. Value stocks continued to outperform their growth counterparts, but small-caps regained ground lost the previous week on large-caps. Financials lagged within the US market, dragged lower by JPMorgan Chase after the banking giant missed Wall Street’s estimates and energy shares outperformed. The market was closed Friday in observance of the Good Friday holiday.
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Markets continue to be buffeted by the ebb and flow of news coming out of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Hopes of de-escalation rose at the start of the week following talks between the two sides in Istanbul, Turkey. Russia said it would reduce its military operations near Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, concentrating its military efforts in the Donbas region to the east. However, many cautioned that this was in all probability simply the Russians seeking to regroup, resupply and rest troops ahead of renewed attacks. Equity markets rallied and sold off along the way.
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Despite the US Federal Reserve raising interest rates for the first time since 2018 and indicating that rates could rise at every further Fed meeting this year, equities staged a rally over the week as there were suggestions that Ukraine and Russia had made tentative steps towards a ceasefire proposal...
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It was another volatile week, dominated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As Russian forces slowly advanced and the bombarding of Ukrainian cities continued, markets continued to sell off especially with Western nations imposing further sanctions on Russia. Commodity prices also soared, amidst disruption to vital commodity exports.
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Concerns over inflation took a back seat this week, as markets focused on the build-up of Russian troops and weapons on the Ukrainian border, with President Biden warning that a conflict could start in a matter of days. Markets have oscillated up and down whilst investors have tried to second guess how serious the threat from President Putin is, or whether it remains chiefly a bargaining tool to prevent the Ukraine slipping towards the Europe Union and membership of NATO...
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It has been a volatile week for markets, as a four-day rally in US equities was cut short on Thursday as Meta’s share price fell by over 26% in afterhours trading on Wednesday, following the release of disappointing earnings guidance and a decline in its active user base.
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Inflation and the likely response from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) dominated markets this week, as Jay Powell, the chair of the Fed, said the inflation outlook had worsened since their December meeting, whilst not ruling out raising rates at every policy meeting for the rest of the year. Fourth quarter US GDP came in higher than forecasted at 6.9% annualised.
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US Treasury yields backed up sharply this week as investors priced in further rate hikes by the Federal Reserve in response to rising inflation, with the consumer price index having recorded a 7% rise last year. This led to a further sell off in growth and technology stocks, with the latter having fallen close to 12% since their peak last November....
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Despite a brief rally intra week, growth stocks, led by technology, continued to sell off this week as the latest inflation data for the US, as represented by the consumer price index, continued to rise. The index rose 7% for the year to the end of December, its fastest pace of increase for almost forty years. Whilst this was in line with market expectations, the figure for the month of December exceeded forecasts, coming in at 0.6%. To further confirm the inflationary picture, the latest Producers Prices Index, which measures prices that producers receive for their finished goods, increased by 9.7% for the year.
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It has been a volatile week for markets as investors wait for further clarity on the potential impact of the Omicron covid variant. Markets oscillated between falling on concerns that current vaccines may prove to be less effective against the new variant, whilst rallying as investors sort out bargains betting that Omicron proves to be a milder strain of the virus.
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The US stock market hit its 66th all-time high this year, setting the market up for its second biggest number of annual records ever, only behind that of 1995, as large cap technology companies continue to outperform with strong earnings and positive outlooks....
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It has been a mixed week for markets as US inflation data has once again exceeded expectations, coming in at 6.2% for the year ending in October, higher than forecasts of 5.9. Whilst on the positive side, company earnings results have continued to exceed expectations, with the majority of companies having been able to pass on rising costs to customers...
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The week started with markets hovering around record highs as investors awaited the latest responses by central banks to months of above-target inflation....
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Markets in the US and Europe made further gains this week, as a continuation of positive earnings results offset concerns over sustained inflation and economic data....
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Strong company earnings results helped propel global equity markets higher this week, despite rising inflationary concerns and expectations for rate hikes being brought forward. US equities in particular recorded yet another new high, with Tesla, amongst others, reporting robust results for the third quarter despite ongoing supply chain issues...
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A flurry of strong company results this week helped alleviate investors’ fears over the impact on earnings of rising inflationary pressures and potential interest rate rises. From Taiwan semiconductor manufacturer TSMC, through to Citigroup and the US drug retailer Walgreens Boots Alliance, all posted forecast beating results this week....
Equity markets rose this week, helped by US Congress reaching an agreement to extend the US debt ceiling, albeit temporarily, allowing the US government to avoid default and continuing to fund its activities until early December...
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Despite a Friday rally large-cap benchmarks recorded their biggest weekly drops since February and rounded out the worst monthly declines since the onset of the pandemic, seemingly weighed down by inflation and interest rate fears.
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The major benchmarks overcame an early sell-off to end the week flat to modestly higher. On Monday, the S&P 500 Index recorded it biggest daily drop since May 12 and briefly dipped below its 100-day moving average, a closely watched technical level..
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Markets have been mixed this week as investors wrestle with a slowdown in economic growth, albeit from very high levels. This was accompanied by a slight moderation in US inflationary pressures, but with rising expectations for the emergency levels of monetary policy, to be gradually reduced in the coming months. This has coincided with a regulatory crackdown in China on a range of businesses, from technology companies, online education, video gaming and casinos, creating uncertainty for investors....
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The world equity index fell this week, as investors’ attention continued to focus on central banks, looking for clues as to when bond buying programmes may be reigned in, as a precursor to interest rate rises in the future.
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Equity markets edged higher in what was a very data heavy week. US and European stocks opened positively on Monday, following a key speech from the Federal reserve chair Jay Powell after last Friday’s market close.
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The ongoing economic recovery was boosted as stocks gained due to the full FDA approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The tech heavy Nasdaq Composite outperformed the major large cap S&P 500 Index as well as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, whilst US Small-cap also ended the week with notable gains.
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Equity markets sold off this week as minutes from the last US Federal Reserve meeting pointed towards monetary policy tapering and data releases suggested a slowdown in growth for the US and an engineered slowdown in China...
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Equity markets rose over the week, as the expectation of further fiscal support remained tantalising close, whilst any fears of yet a further acceleration in inflationary pressures were alleviated by the latest release of the consumer price index in the US....
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After last week’s volatility, equity markets managed to finish on a positive note as investors focused on positive US jobs data. Markets were buoyed by improved data released by the US labour department which saw 385,000 initial unemployment claims, lower than the 399,000 claims from the previous week...
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It has been a choppy week for markets, as Chinese authorities looked to extend their recent regulatory crackdown on technology companies by banning academic companies from making profits, raising capital or going public.
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It was a volatile week for equity markets, with major indices falling sharply on Monday, before recovering as the week progressed....
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Fears of turbo charged growth leading to rising inflationary pressures, gave way to fears that the growth recovery has peaked in the US, coinciding with a slowdown in China, as US Treasury yields, having hit 1.77% in March, fell to 1.25% on Thursday, a level not seen since February...
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At a headline level, global equities trod water this week. However, digging a little deeper, less economically sensitive growth stocks, including technology, outperformed stocks associated with recovery and reflation....
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Markets finished broadly higher this week on the back of US President Biden’s announcement of a new bipartisan infrastructure deal worth about $1 trillion. Spending will focus on upgrading roads, bridges, and broadband networks over the next 8 years....
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Markets were dominated this week by the US Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy meeting on Wednesday.
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The latest inflation figures for the US were released this week, with headline inflation coming in at 5% for the year to May. Excluding food and energy, inflation rose by 3.8%....
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Data released this week pointed towards further momentum in the global recovery and inflationary pressures continuing to build, although not outside of expectations. ..
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Further positive economic data from the US brought monetary policy to the front of investors’ minds this week, despite the Fed confirming once again that it expected higher inflation to be transitory....
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It has been a volatile week in markets, as positive economic data releases triggered further concerns over inflation...
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The long-anticipated US inflation data for the month of April was released this week, marking the point one year ago when much of the US economy had entered into a Covid induced economic lockdown...
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The major indexes produced mixed returns across a wide range as a Friday rally erased some losses from early in the week. The narrowly focused Dow Jones Industrial Average fared best...
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The major indices ended mostly lower, but the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, and the S&P MidCap indices all reached new highs before surrendering their gains on Friday...
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Improving economic data gave way this week to a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in those areas of the world left behind in the race for vaccines...
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Equity markets finished the week on a strong note with stocks nearing record highs by Friday, helped by the release of positive economic data from various regions...
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The US Institute of Supply Management released their latest survey for the services sector this week, coming in at an all-time high, propelling equity markets higher...
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The major benchmarks closed higher for the holiday-shortened trading week, with markets closed Friday in observance of the Good Friday holiday...
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Markets were mixed this week, as a rally in government bonds earlier in the period enabled technology and classically defensive sectors to recover some losses whilst the reflation trade was put on hold....
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Against an increase in economic growth forecasts by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) this week, the chair, Jay Powell, reiterated their continued accommodative stance on monetary policy. ...
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Stock markets rose this week, helped by the US finally passing President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package. The legalisation includes a direct payment of $1,400 to Americans earning $75,000 or less. Technology stocks also bounced having fallen into a technical correction on Monday….
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Inflationary fears remained centre of attention this week, with the chair of the US Federal Reserve (Fed), Jay Powell, yet again confirming that the Fed will be in no hurry to raise rates, providing little comfort to investors.....
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