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European markets are closing in on bear market territory in heavy selling at the end of the week as investors grow increasingly fearful of recessionary and escalation risks. The sell-off has gathered pace as the morning has progressed and I can't expect the mood will improve as we head into another highly uncertain weekend. The fact that Vladimir Putin is showing no desire to de-escalate despite crippling economic sanctions says everything about his mentality and that is bad news for everyone.

04-03-2022 09:31 GMT by Craig Erlam

Sterling slips to new 2022 low

The pound is down considerably for a second straight day and has lost over one per cent on the week. GBP/USD is trading at 1.3268, its lowest level since December 2021. In economic news, the UK Construction PMI for February accelerated to 59.1, up from 56.3 in January and easily beating the consensus of 54.3.

04-03-2022 08:19 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Aussie extends rally

The Australian dollar continues its impressive rally and is in positive territory on Friday. AUD/USD has climbed 1.37% this week. The war in Ukraine shows no signs of letting up, and news that a Russian missile scored a direct hit on a Ukrainian power plant has made investors even more jittery about the war in Europe.

04-03-2022 07:43 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Euro falls to 22-month low

After starting the week with gains, the euro has been on a nasty slide, which has continued on Friday. EUR/USD has dropped below the symbolic 1.10 level in the European session and is at its lowest level since June 2020. Fire at Ukraine nuclear plant sends euro lower The intensified fighting which is raging in Ukraine has taken its toll on the euro. The grim news of a fire at a Ukrainian nuclear plant caused by Russian shelling has resulted in safe haven flows which has boosted the US dollar

04-03-2022 06:50 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Oil goes for a ride, gold clueless

Oil’s price action gets emotional If you’re looking for volatility, trade oil markets. Oil’s price action overnight bordered on outright lunacy as Brent crude rose from USD 114.50 to USD 119.70, before falling to finish 3.60% lower at USD 110.40 a barrel.

04-03-2022 05:05 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Dollar climbs on Ukrainian nuclear fire

The US dollar surges on Ukrainian nuclear fears Notably, the US dollar did not experience any relief flows seen in energy and equity markets overnight in New York, as US yields held onto their gains of the previous session. The rising price of commodities increases demand for US dollar, as does Ukraine haven flows, and should continue to support the greenback into the weekend.

04-03-2022 04:52 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

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Ukraine jitters weigh on Asian markets

Asian equities spooked by Ukraine nuclear plant fire Overnight, European stock markets were crushed once again under Ukrainian nerves as commodity prices across the board soared. US stocks managed a modest recovery as bond yields steadied and hopes rose of an Iranian nuclear deal.

04-03-2022 04:37 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

From Bad to Worse

This morning, headlines in Asia have been dominated by reports that fighting had caused a fire at Ukraine’s nuclear power plant and Europe’s largest, Zaporizhzhia, in the southeastern part of the country. That sparked a risk-off move in asset classes, with equities falling and oil rallying. War reporting is a fluid situation at best and initial reports stated that one of the reactors, thankfully closed for maintenance but still containing nuclear material, was on fire.

04-03-2022 04:18 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

AUD/USD - Breakout amid soaring commodity prices

OANDA Senior Market Analyst Craig Erlam discusses AUDUSD which is in the midst of a bullish breakout as commodity currencies continue to benefit from rising prices.

03-03-2022 18:19 GMT by Craig Erlam

Oil dips after more gains, gold flat

Oil pulls back after almost hitting USD 120 Oil prices are slightly lower, entirely giving up earlier gains that amounted to more than 5% at one point. Brent peaked just shy of USD 120 which is a level that's been talked about a lot in recent weeks but perhaps many won't have expected to see so fast.

03-03-2022 15:36 GMT by Craig Erlam

Risk-aversion returns after brief rally

Stock markets are back in the red again on Thursday, as we await further talks between delegations from Ukraine and Russia. Wednesday's rebound was predictably short-lived against the backdrop of reports of intensifying attacks by Russian troops as they close in on cities across the country. The sanctions that have been levelled at Russia since the invasion started have been far more severe than many expected and we're learning more about their devastating impact with every passing day. While

03-03-2022 15:32 GMT by Craig Erlam

Commodities and Cryptos: Oil weakens on Iranian supply prospects, Gold higher, Bitcoin rally exhausted

Oil Crude prices are ping ponging back and forth as energy traders remain focused on the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and as Iran inches closer to a nuclear deal. In early trade, WTI crude rallied to the highest levels since 2008, after the Russian military captured the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Expectations for another round of Russia-Ukraine talks led to some hope that a possible ceasefire could be agreed upon but talks seem to have been pushed into the beginning of next week.

03-03-2022 15:06 GMT by Edward Moya

US Close -Stocks edge lower, ISM Services Index disappoints, No surprises from Day 2 of Powell

US stocks went on a bumpy ride as investors continue to trade off every incremental update with the Ukraine-Russia conflict and following a wrath of mixed US economic data. Stocks were under pressure early after a French official said President Macron’s conversation with Vladimir Putin did not provide any reason to be optimistic that we could see a de-escalation/ceasefire.

03-03-2022 15:06 GMT by Edward Moya

New Zealand dollar edges higher

The New Zealand dollar has posted small gains on Thursday, as NZD/USD has pushed above the 0.68 line in the North American session. New Zealand is hugely dependent on its export industry, and the Covid pandemic has taken its toll on exports, as global demand has fallen. However, with the worst of Covid hopefully behind us, global demand has picked up, which bodes well for New Zealand's economy.

03-03-2022 11:09 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Australian dollar shrugs after strong data

PMIs, trade balance power higher Australia posted strong data earlier in the day, but the Australian dollar remains almost unchanged as it trades around the 0.73 level. Services PMI jumped to 57.4 in February, up from 46.6 in January. It was a similar story for Construction PMI, which climbed to 53.4, up from 45.9.

03-03-2022 06:02 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Oil keeps climbing, gold steady

Oil rises once again in Asia Despite the noise in equity and bond markets overnight, the panic in oil markets continues with prices rallying aggressively once again. Brent crude leapt 6.80% higher to USD 114.50 a barrel overnight, while WTI rallied 4.75% to USD 111.40 a barrel.

03-03-2022 05:02 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Currency markets are mixed

Euro steady, sterling rises The US dollar mostly retreated overnight as Fed rate hike expectations were pared for March and investors hoped for progress in the Ukraine-Russia meeting expected today. The dollar index eased slightly by 0.04% to 97.36, but with oil prices on fire in Asia today has resumed its ascent, climbing 0.16% to 97.51.

03-03-2022 04:48 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Asian equities are cautiously higher

Asian markets eye Ukraine-Russia talks Overnight, news that a second Ukraine-Russia meeting in sunny Belarus sparked a relief rally in equities markets, which was given more momentum as Jerome Powell signally the Fed would only hike 0.25% this month, instead of 0.50%. As I said previously, peak-Ukraine FOMO is strong in equity markets right now, and the outcome of today’s meeting will dictate entirely whether this is yet another sucker’s rally.

03-03-2022 04:19 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Powell sets the record straight

Powell says March hike to go ahead Jerome Powell sparked more volatility in markets overnight, as if we needed more, by quite clearly stating that the Federal Reserve would not be deterred from hiking at this month's FOMC meeting, despite uncertainty surrounding the Ukraine situation. His remarks suggested a 25 basis point hike was coming, taking 50 bps off the table. His remarks sparked more tumult in bond markets, which this week, have been behaving like the caffeine-addled tail-chasing f

03-03-2022 04:10 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Market Insights Podcast (Episode 301)

Jonny Hart speaks to APAC Senior Market Analyst Jeffrey Halley about news impacting the market and the week ahead. Today we look at market developments in Asia following a relief rally on Wall Street overnight. Notably, oil prices have continued flying in Asia and much of the podcast ponders the fallout from spiralling commodity prices, notably stagflation or not.

03-03-2022 02:49 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

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