Category Archives: Market Insights

Chinese tech and gaming giant Tencent has been awarded its first license for a video game in 18 months. This comes after the Chinese authorities started its wide-reaching crackdown on big tech companies, implementing legislation like limiting the amount of time children could spend playing games, and freezing the approval of new titles. Beijing hasContinue Reading

On Wednesday evening, the EIA Crude Oil Inventories was released, with a draw of 5.4 million barrels – almost 5 million higher than the expected draw of 440,000 barrels. This puts current inventories at 435.4 million barrels, 4% below the 5-year average for this time of the year.  Normally, a larger-than-expected drop in the crudeContinue Reading

Embattled cryptocurrency exchange FTX has declared bankruptcy in the latest saga in the crypto world. The company saw a mass exodus of holders of its native coin, FTT, after news emerged that its finances, including that of its sister trading company Alameda Research, was on shaky ground. Alameda itself is being accused of using clientContinue Reading

After weeks of campaigning, the 2022 U.S. midterm elections are set to be held on 8th November, Tuesday.  With inflation in full swing and multiple signals of an impending recession, it looks the economy – more specifically the cost of living – might decide who the winning party is. All 435 House seats and 35Continue Reading

On Wednesday, 2 November, the US Federal Reserve implemented its fourth mega hike, raising interest rates by 75 basis points, or 0.75%, in its continuing fight against high inflation. This brings the current Fed’s benchmark rate to 3.75% – 4%, with rates expected to hit a ceiling at 4.5% – 4.75% in 2023 according toContinue Reading

On Tuesday, 25 October, Rishi Sunak was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the UK. The 42-year-old is the third UK PM in 7 weeks, replacing Liz Truss, who was PM for the whole of 44 days. Sunak comes at a time of great financial instability for the UK, with Truss’ mini-budget causingContinue Reading

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned last week, making her the UK’s shortest-serving PM at just 44 days in office. Truss’ term has been plagued by criticism for her mini budget program, which included the biggest tax cuts since 1972, but would be largely funded  by a massive expansion in borrowing. The markets are nowContinue Reading

Recession fears are plaguing the markets more strongly than ever. On Wednesday, US Treasury yields hit a 14-year high, with the 10-year note hitting as high as 4.153% as of writing – the highest since 2008’s recession. Meanwhile, the 2-year yield rose by 13 basis points to 4.57%. More importantly, the 3-month rate briefly roseContinue Reading

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng made an unprecedentedly dramatic early exit from an International Monetary Fund event in Washington on Friday, with many thinking it was to return to the UK to prepare his fiscal plan. Turns out, Kwarteng was being asked to leave his post by UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, whoContinue Reading

On Wednesday, 12 October (GMT+3), the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Short-Term Energy Outlook (SETO). Forecasts for 2023 revealed an average global oil production of 100.7 million barrels a day – down 600,000 from September’s forecast and reflecting OPEC+’s announced cuts.  Oil consumption for 2023 is forecasted to be 101 million b/d –Continue Reading