|

Crude jumps on tensions in Middle East, Libya [Video]

The week started on mixed feelings. The rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and between the West and China, and a pullback across the big technology stocks casted shadow on the optimism that the Federal Reserve (Fed) is about to start cutting the interest rates in September.

The US yields and the dollar rebounded on Monday. Big Tech fell, other sectors rose. Crude oil jumped on the tense geopolitical environment in the Middle East and on rising tensions within Libya.

In China, the market selloff continues; the CSI 300 index trades at the lowest levels since February. Canada announced that it will impose tariffs of 100% on Chinese-made EVs and 25% on steel and aluminium to protect its domestic manufacturers. The Chinese e-commerce giant PDD – the owner of Temu – plunged nearly 30% on Nasdaq and recorded its biggest one-day lost ever, after the company warned of slowing sales as the competitors like Alibaba also increase efforts to attract budget-aware customers. Zooming out, KraneShares CSI China internet ETF posted its worst weekly outflow in 2 years, as investors moved money into EM bonds on Fed rate cut bets.

Author

Ipek Ozkardeskaya

Ipek Ozkardeskaya

Swissquote Bank Ltd

Ipek Ozkardeskaya began her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked in HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

More from Ipek Ozkardeskaya
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD remains bid, focus stays on 1.1900

EUR/USD has broken its two-day run of losses and is ticking modestly higher on Thursday, hovering around the 1.1880 area as the US Dollar struggles to find clear direction. Weekly Initial Jobless Claims rose more than expected, taking a bit of shine off the Greenback, but markets are largely in wait-and-see mode ahead of Friday’s US CPI release.

GBP/USD sticks to the bid bias, still below 1.3700

GBP/USD is trading with decent gains around 1.3650 on Thursday. Indeed, Cable is attempting to shake off the weakness seen earlier in the week amid another choppy session for the Greenback, while a run of disappointing UK data has so far failed to derail the pair’s tentative recovery.

Gold recedes slightly, trades below $5,100

Gold remains stuck in choppy trade on Thursday, deflating marginally just below the $5,100 mark per troy ounce as the US Dollar drifts without a clear trend. Softer US Treasury yields across the curve are offering some support, but with markets treading carefully ahead of Friday’s US CPI release, conviction remains limited and price action continues to look hesitant.

LayerZero Price Forecast: ZRO steadies as markets digest Zero blockchain announcement

LayerZero (ZRO) trades above $2.00 at press time on Thursday, holding steady after a 17% rebound the previous day, which aligned with the public announcement of the Zero blockchain and Cathie Wood joining the advisory board. 

A tale of two labour markets: Headline strength masks underlying weakness

Undoubtedly, yesterday’s delayed US January jobs report delivered a strong headline – one that surpassed most estimates. However, optimism quickly faded amid sobering benchmark revisions.

Aster Price Forecast: Demand sparks on Binance Wallet partnership for on-chain perpetuals

Aster is up roughly 9% so far on Thursday, hinting at the breakout of a crucial resistance level. Aster partners up with Binance wallet for the second season of the on-chain perpetuals challenge.