New High For Gold; Stocks Slide as Focus Turns to Earnings Reports
US index futures have resumed their retreat this morning, with the three main contracts trading down 0.9% to 1.4%. Overseas trading action has been mixed with the Dax down 0.5%, the CAC down 0.6%, the FTSE flat, the Nikkei down 1.3%, and the Hang Seng up 1.6%. Earnings season ramps up this week and recent […]
Export Regulations Drag Down Chip Stocks, Boost Gold
The Morning Minutes will not be issued on Thursday April 17, they should return on Monday April 21st. For the last several weeks, investors have been focused on tariffs as the main tool in a growing trade war between the US and other countries. Last night, the street was reminded that other measures can be […]
Stock Rally Fades as Focus Returns to Earnings
The US stock market rebound which started last week continues to show signs of slowing. Coming off of a positive Monday, this morning US index futures are down 0.3% to 0.4%. In Europe today, the Dax is up 0.5% and the FTSE is up 0.7%. Commodity action finds Copper down 1.4% and Crude Oil down […]
Easing Technology Tariffs Sends Stocks Soaring
A shortened trading week has kicked off with stock markets around the world rallying in hope that the tariff war may ease. Over the weekend, the White House announced that it is removing technology (smartphones, computers, semiconductors, memory devices and more) from the reciprocal tariff program, as it prepares a separate technology tariff program to […]
World Markets Bounce Back
We now appear to be moving into a new phase of market reaction to the external shock of President Trump following through on his tariff threats last week. Following Thursday’s initial negative response, Friday’s panic selloff, and Monday’s stabilization, today we have a big bounce underway with short sellers taking profits and bargain hunters stepping […]
The US Versus The World
The new trading week has started with Asia Pacific markets catching up to last Friday’s panic selloff. Hong Kong plunged 13.2%, Shanghai fell 7.3%, and Tokyo lost 7.8%. European markets, which partly participated on Friday are seeing less extreme losses with Frankfurt down 4.2% and London down 3.8%. All eyes are now on the US […]
Growing Trade War, Positive Payrolls and Powell In Focus
Stocks and commodities have been under heavy selling pressure overnight on fears that this week’s Trump Tariffs may have ignited a global trade war. Overnight, China responded with 34% tariff on all US goods it imports. This news particularly impacted Australia as its stock market fell 2.4% and the Australian Dollar plunged 3.6%. Commodities have […]
Trump Tariffs Crush World Markets
Although President Trump has been threatening to increase tariffs for months and has been talking about yesterday’s “Liberation Day” round of new tariffs for weeks, which included a 10% baseline tariff plus reciprocal tariffs against pretty much everyone except for Canada and Mexico, some people still appear to have been caught off guard. Stocks and […]
Investors Await “Liberation Day” Tariff Announcements
The big day which investors have been awaiting or dreading has finally arrived. At 4:00 pm EDT this afternoon, just after North American markets close, President Trump is expected to make a number of announcements related to new and reciprocal tariffs, a moment that he has been calling “Liberation Day” for weeks. Previous tariff announcements […]
Shaky Start to a Big Week for World Markets
The first day of the new trading week, which is also the last trading day of the month and the quarter, finds stock markets around the world under heavy selling pressure. Overnight, the Nikkei plunged 4.0%, while the Hang Seng fell 1.3%. European trading finds the Dax and CAC both down 2.0%, with the FTSE […]