US Courts: Trump’s Global Tariffs Illegal The recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on August 29, 2025, declared that most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unlawful. However, the court allowed these tariffs to remain in effect until October 14, …
Continue reading “Market Wrap for Week Ending 29 August 2025”
FED Ready To Cut The recently concluded Jackson Hole gathering of central bankers produced an investor friendly outcome – Jerome Powell is ready to cut rates. The acknowledgment of rising risk to the labour market signalled a shift in the FED’s monetary policy stance. Expect a September cut unless there is a big change in …
Continue reading “Market Wrap for Week Ending 22 August 2025”
The past week brought three developments that matter greatly to global investors: fresh U.S. inflation data that challenges expectations for monetary easing, a set of weak July figures from China that highlight ongoing fragility in the world’s second-largest economy, and renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine. U.S. Inflation: The Fed’s Job Isn’t …
Continue reading “Market Wrap for the Week Ending 15 August 2025”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy added just 73,000 jobs in July, far below expectations. More concerning were the massive downward revisions: 258,000 jobs were revised downward for the prior two months, with economists calling these revisions “stunning”. President Trump reacted by firing the Bureau of Labour Statistics commissioner. Breaking down …
US-EU Trade Deal On July 27, 2025, the EU and US announced a trade deal to stabilize transatlantic commerce, finalized at Trump’s Turnberry golf course. The agreement sets a 15% tariff on most EU goods exported to the US, lower than the threatened 30% but higher than the current 10%, potentially generating $90 billion in …
Continue reading “Market Wrap for the Week Ending 25 July 2025”
The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to resign, raising serious concerns about central bank independence. President Trump has called for Powell to “resign immediately” and launched a multi-faceted pressure campaign that includes accusations about Fed headquarters renovation mismanagement. This development introduces a new layer of political risk for financial …
1) Global Stock Markets Major indices retreated: the Dow fell ~1% (~279 pts), S&P 500 dropped 0.3% (~21 pts) to 6,259.8, and the Nasdaqslipped ~0.1% to 20,585.5. The Russell 2000 led losses for the week with a 1.3% decline . Still, YTD, these benchmarks remain ahead: +6.4% (S&P), +6.6% (Nasdaq), +4.3% (Dow) . Europe Despite a …
Continue reading “Market Wrap for the Week Ending 11 July 2025”
US Equities Scale New Heights Despite First-Half Headwinds US stock markets closed the week on a triumphant note, with major indices reaching fresh all-time highs despite the significant challenges that defined the first half of 2025. The S&P 500 extended its remarkable run, adding 1.7% for the week. This performance underscores the market’s remarkable resilience …
Continue reading “Market Wrap For The Week Ending 4 July 2025”
S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Market Breadth Shows Signs of Improvement The S&P 500 closed Friday at 6,173.07, marking a new record high, while the Nasdaq also reached record closing levels as investors brushed aside trade concerns. The broad rally capped a strong week that saw major indices shrug off mid-week volatility …
Iran-Israel Tensions The Israel-Iran conflict’s immediate impact is heightened oil prices and market volatility, with risks of broader economic disruption if escalation continues. Diplomacy or limited retaliation could stabilize markets, but a wider conflict involving oil infrastructure or the Strait of Hormuz could lead to severe global economic consequences, including inflation, supply chain disruptions, and …