Wall Street Week Ahead: Fed meeting in focus as investors seek rate-path hints
Investors are closely watching the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy meeting for signals on potential rate cuts amid concerns about a softening labor market and persistent inflation. Recent geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties add to market volatility, while upcoming retail sales data and the looming end of a tariff pause further fuel investor caution.
5 world market themes for the week ahead
Global markets face a volatile week as Middle East tensions escalate, driving oil prices up. Central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, are set to make crucial interest rate decisions. Investors await clarity on the Fed’s stance amid inflation concerns. The Bank of Japan’s policy meeting is also keenly anticipated.
Gold in a healthy consolidation period, says Chris Wood
Jefferies’ Christopher Wood notes gold’s consolidation above $3,000. He maintains high gold allocation in his pension fund. Western gold ETF flows are light despite gold’s outperformance since 2022. Total ETF holdings are below 2020 peak. Gold prices have significantly outpaced the MSCI AC World Index since 2022. China’s gold imports surged in April.
Wall Street ends sharply lower as Iran retaliates against Israel attack
Explosions were heard and seen over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as sirens sounded across Israel following what the country’s military spokesman said was the firing of missiles from Iran. That came after Israel struck nuclear facilities and missile factories in Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East and undermining global investor confidence. Oil prices surged […]
Can rupee recover from its worst fall in over a month due to rising oil prices?
The Indian rupee weakened to 86.20 per dollar due to rising crude oil prices following Israeli strikes on Iran, but closed at 86.08/$1 after likely RBI intervention. Brent crude surged to $75 per barrel, impacting risk sentiment and pushing the 10-year bond yield to 6.40% before settling at 6.36%. Geopolitical tensions created a fragile mood […]
Yes Bank chief Prashant Kumar gets 6-month extension
Reserve Bank of India has extended Prashant Kumar’s tenure as Yes Bank CEO. He will continue until a successor is found. The extension is effective from October 6, 2025. Kumar’s leadership began in March 2020. During his term, Yes Bank’s deposits and retail advances grew significantly. The bank also improved its asset quality under his […]
RBI cancels 30-year green bond auction amid high bids
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled a ₹5,000 crore green bond auction for the 30-year paper, despite receiving bids exceeding ₹10,943 crore. This cancellation, the second this year, is attributed to bids with yields higher than the RBI’s comfort level. Geopolitical tensions and a weakening rupee contributed to the increased pressure on bond yields, […]
Indices declines 0.7% amid rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions
Indian equity indices closed lower on Friday due to Israel’s strikes on Iran, which raised concerns about oil supply disruptions and a wider Middle East conflict. Despite an initial sharp fall, the market recovered some losses, supported by underlying bullish sentiment. Both Nifty and Sensex declined, with investors closely watching key support levels for further […]
Fidelity marks up IPO-bound Lenskart’s valuation to $6.1 billion
Fidelity has increased Lenskart’s valuation to $6.1 billion, a 21% rise from its previous $5 billion valuation. The omnichannel eyewear retailer is preparing for a potential $1 billion IPO at a $10 billion valuation. Lenskart’s FY24 net loss decreased significantly, while operating revenue and EBITDA saw substantial growth, highlighting its strong financial performance.
IndiGo in for a crash course in surge in insurance costs
IndiGo airlines is bracing for a potential surge in aviation insurance costs upon policy renewal, influenced by escalating geopolitical risks and diminished reinsurance capacity following the recent Air India plane crash. The crash could lead to substantial hull and liability claims, impacting global reinsurance markets.