Cryptos: All News & Analysis

European markets are starting the week on a positive note, with indices up close to 1% on the back of softer commodity prices and confirmed talks between Ukraine and Russia. Broadly speaking, stock markets remain in a consolidatory phase and have been for almost a couple of weeks but they've certainly received a mild boost at the start of the week. Whether that can be sustained or not may well depend on whether we can see progress in talks this week. Naturally, further talks between the two co

28-03-2022 13:05 GMT by Craig Erlam

Bitcoin - Buoyed by oil and gas claim

Can it break resistance? In the latest twist in the crypto space, Russian lawmaker Pavel Zavalny, claimed the country may consider accepting payment for oil and gas in bitcoin from friendly countries. I mean, this should seriously be taken with a pinch of salt for a number of reasons. Not least Russia's widely known opposition to cryptos.

25-03-2022 16:51 GMT by Craig Erlam

Market Insights Podcast (Episode 311)

Jonny Hart looks back on the week's business and markets news with OANDA Senior Market Analyst Ed Moya in New York. This week they discuss how financial markets reacted to the global impact from the war in Ukraine, oil markets, and cryptocurrencies. They also discuss what the week ahead has in store for financial markets.

25-03-2022 16:15 GMT by Edward Moya

US Close: OANDA - Stocks have another strong week, Oil turns positive after Aramco site hit, Gold edges lower, Bitcoin higher

US stocks posted another week of gains as investors watch developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine and as Fed rate hike expectations continue to grow. It seems the skyrocketing move higher with commodity prices has taken a break and that has allowed investors a chance to pile back into equities. Geopolitical risks remain very elevated and the rally in equities over the past two weeks is impressive.

25-03-2022 16:02 GMT by Edward Moya

Markets stabilize

European stock markets are making modest gains at the end of the week but broadly remain in consolidation, as has been the case throughout the week. Markets have priced in economic risks We appear to have hit a point in which the initial shock has been shrugged off and markets have corrected back to a point where the economic risks are deemed to be priced in. In the absence of any significant developments, equity markets have come to a relative standstill and could remain that way

25-03-2022 10:23 GMT by Craig Erlam

Stocks rally after decent data with focus on Ukraine, bitcoin benefits from risk-on rally

US stocks rose as investors assess the impact of the latest round of sanctions against Russia, mostly impressive US data, and as oil prices edge lower. Wall Street knows that the US economy is still looking pretty good but they are trying to figure out how aggressive the Fed will be with tightening, how high oil prices will get, and will the war in Ukraine be over in a few months' time.

24-03-2022 15:00 GMT by Edward Moya

Recovery losing momentum

It's been a relatively slow start to trading in equity markets as we approach the end of the week, with stocks losing the momentum that's driven the strong recovery in recent weeks. The recovery has arguably been overdone considering the invasion of Ukraine is ongoing and commodity prices are at sky-high levels and still prone to surges. But the fact that Ukraine and Russia remain in negotiations seems to be enough to keep investors on board. The threat of very high inflation and rapid rate hi

24-03-2022 12:14 GMT by Craig Erlam

Mid-Market Update: Stocks lower as soft landing fantasy seems unlikely, Energy prices jump, Gold rallies, Bitcoin Hovers

US stocks declined as the harsh reality sets in that the Fed most likely won’t be able to navigate a soft landing as geopolitical risks will continue to keep upward pressures on prices and force the Fed into a difficult decision later this year. The Fed will either have to tighten policy so much that it sends the economy into a recession, or it will once again have to flip flop and prevent policy from becoming too restrictive. Wall Street's resilience for risky assets can't handle a flip-flopp

23-03-2022 12:48 GMT by Edward Moya

Investors undeterred

Stock markets are making decent gains on Tuesday, bouncing back quickly from the disappointment late Monday as Fed Chair Powell turned the hawkish dial up a notch. It didn't take long for investors to get over the latest disappointment as they prepared for interest rates rising to around 2% by the end of the year. That's an incredible aggressive tightening cycle and would mean at least one 50 basis point hike at a meeting, something we haven't seen in more than 20 years. Despite recession talk

22-03-2022 14:30 GMT by Craig Erlam

What Stagflation? Bullard being Bullard, bitcoin rallies

Equity traders are looking at surging global bond yields and are saying, “What, me worry?” The global bond market selloff is not easing at all and that should raise some red flags. Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman is what many stock traders are starting to look like when they buy every dip. Fed policy is about to become restrictive and commodity market tightness will still remain even if there is a quick resolution to the crisis in Ukraine.

22-03-2022 12:37 GMT by Edward Moya

US Close: Powell ready for super sized hikes, Inversion focus as bonds selloff, Boeing 737 plane crashed in Southern China, Oil rises as calls for EU to ban Russian energy grow, Gold sideways as yields surge, Bitcoin holds $41k

US stocks had an uninspiring start to the trading week after Fed Chair Powell delivered another round of hawkish comments and as commodity prices surged on growing expectations the EU could consider an oil embargo on Russia this week. The harsh reality of faster rate rises is setting in for some traders and that could eventually lead to a taper tantrum which might happen alongside stagflation. Monetary policy is still accommodative for now, but that could quickly change if the Fed delivers a c

21-03-2022 16:34 GMT by Edward Moya

Commodities and Cryptos: Oil choppy, Gold lower, Bitcoin steady

Oil Crude prices are consolidating as energy traders process the IEA’s 10-point plan to reduce oil consumption and await to see if any progress in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia can be made. Oil will remain a volatile trade in both directions, but the geopolitical risks don’t seem like they will be going away anytime soon, so $100 oil is likely here to stay.

18-03-2022 12:13 GMT by Edward Moya

Caution into the weekend

Investors are opting for caution at the end of another strong rebound week, with equity markets a little lower as we near the close. The rebound we've seen over the last couple of weeks has been nothing short of extraordinary. So much so that I don't think it's unfair to suggest we're seeing an unhealthy amount of complacency creeping into the markets. I'm not sure what exactly is more appealing about equity markets right now.

18-03-2022 10:07 GMT by Craig Erlam

Stocks maintaining post-Fed rally, bitcoin struggles

US stocks are still holding onto their post-Fed gains as investors await developments with Russia/Ukraine negotiations. There is too much short-term geopolitical and economic growth risk that the rally in stocks appears like it will be capped soon.

17-03-2022 15:34 GMT by Edward Moya

Premature optimism

Stock markets are edging lower on Thursday, paring back this week's gains as the Kremlin denies substantial progress in talks and the Fed begins its aggressive tightening cycle. As ever, we need to take commentary coming from the Kremlin with a pinch of salt, both good and bad, but the latest comments have come as a blow to the markets. We've seen cautious optimism building in the markets this week as the two sides appeared to be making progress, even if it was occurring against the backdrop of

17-03-2022 14:15 GMT by Craig Erlam

Fed React: Powell is finally ready to take on inflation, Retail Sales revisions, Oil lower, Gold tumbles, Bitcoin higher

US stocks went on a rollercoaster ride after a hawkish FOMC statement initially sent risky assets lower, but then turned positive after Fed Chair Powell tentatively convinced markets they will not be too late with fighting inflation. Much of today went as expected with the Fed raising rates by 25 basis points and addressing how the war in Ukraine is driving additional inflationary pressures. The Fed’s 2022 forecast for inflation was raised from 2.6% to 4.3%.

16-03-2022 15:49 GMT by Edward Moya

Equities buoyed by ceasefire talks

Equity markets are continuing to bounce back strongly on Wednesday, as talks between Ukraine and Russia appear to be nearing a conclusion that could put an end to the invasion. Given how the events have unfolded over the last month, I remain cautiously optimistic at best about a deal. Especially when you consider that Russian attacks on Ukraine are continuing during the negotiations.

16-03-2022 12:51 GMT by Craig Erlam

Stocks rally on oil plunge and soft PPI report, airlines surge,bitcoin trapped

US stocks are getting a boost from a trifecta of reasons: economic and political pressure grow for a Russian ceasefire, oil prices plunge, and after both a softer-than-expected PPI report and a disappointing Empire survey supports the idea that the Fed won’t have to be aggressive with tightening policy over the next few meetings. The S&P 500 index was getting dangerously close to the lows seen at the initial stock market selloff when Russia invaded Ukraine just over two weeks ago.

15-03-2022 13:24 GMT by Edward Moya

Cautiously optimistic

European equity markets have recovered most of their earlier losses but remain a little lower on the day. Stocks are coming off two positive sessions which probably contributed to the downside we saw earlier on despite there being no real negative developments in Ukraine. In fact, commodity prices have continued to decline today which could take the gale-force out of the coming headwinds for the global economy. This remains an incredibly headline-driven market which means investors will likely

15-03-2022 11:17 GMT by Craig Erlam

Risk rebound as talks continue

Stock markets are rallying again at the start of the week as investors continue to be encouraged by reports of progress in talks between Ukraine and Russia. While there has unfortunately been no de-escalation within Ukraine, there is hope that talks between the two sides could lead to a ceasefire. That may be premature, even misguided given how events have unfolded over the last few weeks.

14-03-2022 16:51 GMT by Craig Erlam

Cryptos: all news & analysis