US tightens the screws: Iran trade hit, Hormuz stays open for now. The origianl announcement of this blockade was garbled, implying full closure, which seemed illogical. Some clarification now. Summary: US to implement maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports from April 13, 10 a.m. ET Enforcement applies to all vessels trading with Iran, regardless of flag Crucially, transit through the…
The US Dollar Index (DXY) fell toward the 98.60 price region as markets digest the latest US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which confirmed that inflation remains stubbornly elevated, largely driven by energy prices amid war in the Middle East. At the same time, headlines around Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and fragile ceasefire conditions continue to drive Oil…
The EURUSD is pushing to a new session high following weaker-than-expected data from the University of Michigan. Sentiment dropped to a fresh record low at 47.6 (vs 52.0 expected), while 1-year inflation expectations jumped sharply to 4.8% from 3.8%. Ongoing tensions tied to the Iran conflict are clearly weighing on consumer confidence and shaping the inflation outlook. From a…
Gold (XAU/USD) price remains steady on Friday, poised to finish the week with gains of almost 2% as the US Dollar tumbles amid optimism about Iran-US talks in Pakistan throughout the weekend. Also, a mildly high US inflation report trimmed the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) dovish bets for 2026. The XAU/USD pair trades at $4,763, up 0.01%. Gold’s faith in…
Peace talks collapsed, Trump declared a Strait of Hormuz blockade, and the ceasefire trade died over the weekend — here’s your scenario guide for the week ahead.
Sat: US/Iran Talks Sun: Hungary Election Mon: OPEC MOMR (Apr), Chinese M2 Money Supply (Mar), US Existing Home Sales (Mar), US Monthly Budget Statement (Mar) Tue: IEA OMR (Apr), IMF World Economic Outlook Press Briefing (Apr), Chinese Balance of Trade (Mar), Japanese Industrial Production Final (Feb), German Wholesale Prices (Mar), Spanish HICP Final (Mar), US NFIB Business Optimism Index…
The S&P 500 is struggling to hold onto what would mark its eighth consecutive day of gains on Friday. The index rose 0.2% by lunchtime, aided by a slightly lower core Consumer Price Index (CPI) reading than expected and expectations of a negotiated settlement between the US and Iran over the coming weekend, only to sink to -0.1% by…
Late yesterday it appeared that US-Iran negotiations were headed for catastrophe after Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan without a deal but not all hope is yet lost if you read between the lines from the latest statements. The most-recent one is from Trump, who said the US will clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz and blockade Iran…
ING’s Chief Economist for Greater China, Lynn Song, highlights that Taiwan’s March trade data far exceeded expectations, with exports and imports surging and the trade surplus more than doubling year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026. The report stresses Taiwan’s growing dependence on tech-related exports, rising export prices, and significant upside surprises that are prompting an upgrade to 2026…
Sector Overview Today’s stock market heatmap reveals a notable upswing in the semiconductor sector, with major players like Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) leading the charge. Nvidia is up by 2.22% and Broadcom by an impressive 5.45%, signaling strong investor confidence in this high-tech segment. Meanwhile, consumer cyclicals also see gains, particularly with Amazon (AMZN) increasing by 2.33%, reflecting…
