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US/Russia summit lifts FX risk sentiment Most of the major currencies appear to be around their year-end levels as the end of the month approaches, having weathered a US dollar storm over the first five weeks of 2022. The prospect of interest rate rises outside of the US, and a stubborn long end of the US curve has seen the US dollar retreat in the past two weeks, as the kitchen sink buy-US dollar-trade was slowly squeezed out.

21-02-2022 04:19 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

The kitchen sink trade passed sooner than expected

A belated good morning from Jakarta where I am on day two of managed isolation and where, unfortunately, my hotel room’s internet ceased functioning last night. Back home in New Zealand, it’s been nearly two months since I looked at the markets closely, but the effects of the pandemic behind the Great Wall of Jacinda have been clear to see and most certainly have played out similarly in other parts of the world. The ham-fisted quantitative easing by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has caused on

21-02-2022 04:03 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Equities jump on Ukraine talks

Asia equities mixed US equities closed lower on Friday as heightened Ukraine tensions weighed on sentiment, complicated by a long weekend with the US closed for President’s Day today. The S&P 500 fell by 0.72%, the Nasdaq by 1.23%, and the Dow Jones by 0.68%.

21-02-2022 03:55 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Market Insights Podcast (Episode 296)

OANDA Senior Market Analyst Craig Erlam reviews the day's market news with Jonny Hart. They discussed the latest in Ukraine and the impact it's having on the markets.

18-02-2022 15:41 GMT by Craig Erlam

US Close: Tough to hold risk into long weekend, Housing Sales Impress

Investors are having a hard time holding onto risk as the likelihood that the standoff between the West and Russia will ultimately lead to some ground conflict. US stocks gave up earlier gains after the Russian press confirmed reports of the evacuation of residents from East Ukraine to Russia and then turned negative after reports over an explosion in Donetsk.

18-02-2022 13:47 GMT by Edward Moya

Commodities and Cryptos: Crude pares losses after explosion in Donetsk, Gold hovers near $1900, Bitcoin below $40k

Oil Crude prices reversed earlier losses after reports of an explosion in the center of separatist-held city of Donetsk in east Ukraine. Oil had been pulling back over the past couple of days as energy traders took some risk off the table and over improved expectations that Iran is getting closer to reviving a nuclear deal.

18-02-2022 13:47 GMT by Edward Moya

Week Ahead - Markets remain volatile

There's been no shortage of volatility in the markets so far this year and it doesn't look like that is going to change any time soon. The focus has shifted slightly in recent weeks from monetary policy to geopolitics as Russian troops have built up on the Ukrainian border and the West has warned of an imminent invasion.

18-02-2022 13:33 GMT by Craig Erlam

Oil falls while gold sparkles

Oil slides as the US nears nuclear accord with Iran Reports of the US and Iran nearing a new nuclear deal couldn't have come at a better time and oil prices are slipping at the prospect of more than a million barrels of crude re-entering the market. In the absence of a deal, we could already be talking about triple-figure oil prices. Of course, the risk of a Russian invasion remains heightened so there's plenty of potential for oil prices to head higher once more if troops do cross the border

18-02-2022 08:12 GMT by Craig Erlam

Cautious end to the week

It promises to be a fascinating end to the week as European equity markets steady and US futures pare losses amid planned talks between the US and Russia next week. Risk aversion swept through the markets on Thursday as the perceived risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine rose. Much like the weather here in London, Friday was shaping up to be rather treacherous in the markets, that is until US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accepted an invitation to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

18-02-2022 08:08 GMT by Craig Erlam

Pound steady as retail sales rebound

UK retail sales bounce back UK retail sales rebounded in January, with a gain of 1.9% m/m, its highest monthly gain since April 2021. The increase followed a decline of 4.0% in December and beat the consensus of 1.0%.

18-02-2022 04:22 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Brent Crude - Will oil hit $100?

OANDA Senior Market Analyst Craig Erlam discusses whether oil will hit $100 as Russia is accused of preparing to invade Ukraine and the US and Iran could resurrect the nuclear deal.

17-02-2022 17:17 GMT by Craig Erlam

Oil slumps, gold captures $1900

Oil pulls back For one day, energy traders decided to forget about how tight the oil market remains and took some risk off the table as Wall Street hit the sell button with every risky asset over rising geopolitical concerns. President Biden believes there is still a high risk for a Russian invasion of the Ukraine and that will be the primary catalyst for risk appetite. Oil prices are on sale today and whatever weakness is happening will likely be short-lived. Geopolitical tensions should be

17-02-2022 15:56 GMT by Edward Moya

Heightened invasion fears has Wall Street selling everything, US data, bitcoin tumbles

US stocks did not stand a chance today as risk aversion violently returned on growing fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and after an impressive earnings report from Walmart suggested the consumer is strong and paves the way for potential aggressive Fed tightening. The risks for a military conflict at the Ukraine border appear to be rising and that has many investors entering de-risking mode.

17-02-2022 15:51 GMT by Edward Moya

Japanese yen rises on Ukraine fears

The Japanese yen has moved higher on Thursday, as tensions are once again rising over the Ukraine crisis. Ukraine crisis escalates Invasions fears have ratcheted upwards, after NATO warned that Russia could use a border skirmish as a pretext for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The US has rejected Moscow's claim that it is reducing its military presence on the border and Russia expelled a senior US diplomat from Moscow earlier in the day.

17-02-2022 11:32 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Market Insights Podcast (Episode 295)

OANDA Senior Market Analyst Ed Moya previews the day's market news with Jonny Hart. They discussed markets, discuss the US retail sales report, UK CPI, EIA crude oil inventory report, and crypto marketing momentum from the Super Bowl.

17-02-2022 08:59 GMT by Edward Moya

Oil falls on Iran talks, gold has momentum

Oil slides as US and Iran near nuclear deal There's no shortage of volatility in the oil market at the moment, with multiple forces combining to create very lively conditions. The market is obviously extremely tight which is why we're seeing some large moves on a daily basis and the price could already be in triple-figure territory if not for the nuclear talks between the US and Iran. And it's this that's driving the declines today, with reports suggesting an agreement is days away.

17-02-2022 08:52 GMT by Craig Erlam

Uncertainty keeps investors on edge

Stock markets in Europe are mixed, while US futures are edging lower on Thursday, as uncertainty remains around Russia's intentions in Ukraine. It's been a rather strange week that started with warnings of an imminent invasion - repeatedly denied by Russia - followed by claims of troops withdrawing following the completion of planned drills which has since been rejected by Ukraine and NATO, who have instead insisted that numbers are rising, not falling. It's no wonder investors don't know which

17-02-2022 08:46 GMT by Craig Erlam

Sterling extends gains

The British pound has posted gains for a third straight day and punched above the 1.36 line. In the European session, GBP/USD is trading at 1.3616, up 0.25% on the day. A busy week in the UK wraps up on Friday with the release of January retail sales.

17-02-2022 08:36 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Cdn. dollar dips after FOMC minutes

Canada's inflation hits 30-year high Inflation continues to rise and hit a new 30-year high in January. Headline inflation jumped 5.1% y/y, up from 4.8% a month earlier and above the consensus of 4.8%.

17-02-2022 06:33 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Aussie shrugs after positive jobs report

Australia's employment report for January was better than expected, but the Australian dollar didn't respond to the positive news. The economy added 12.9 thousand jobs, beating the consensus of a flat zero reading. Unemployment was unchanged at 4.2%, while the participation rate inched upwards to 66.2%, up from 66.1% and above the consensus of 66.0%.

17-02-2022 05:00 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

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