May 2026 in Figures May 29, 2026 For many weeks now, Trump administration officials have been saying that a peace deal may be just around the corner, but the conditions for such have so far proven elusive. That hasn’t mattered. Repeat something long enough and people will come to believe it, and so financial markets…
Balancing Strong Corporate Earnings Against Continuing Frustration Over Failure to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz May 22, 2026 This week at least the lack of cheery news on the U.S./Iranian negotiating front was outweighed by proof of continuing heavy investment in AI and overall strong profitability in the tech industries. U.S. equities rose further today….
Thursday Highlights May 21, 2026 Whereas it was President Trump’s questionable decision to launch a military attack on Iran with the intent of never allowing the current regime there to possess nuclear weapons lit the fire of global inflation and the second major supply shock of this decade, purchasing manager surveys reported today suggest that…
Watching Iran, Central Banks and Inflation Data While Also Anticipating Nvidia’s 1Q Earnings Report May 20, 2026 As has become increasingly common, same-day movement in Asian equity markets has been opposite in direction from the trends in Europe and North America. On this Wednesday, Pac Rim share prices closed lower, including losses of 1.7% in…
Dollar Strengthens Amid Bad Vibes from Ceasefire Talks and Tense U.S. Politics May 19, 2026 In there deepening impasse, the U.S. and Iranian negotiators have seemingly moved further away from any willingness to compromise their demands. Trump claims to have postponed a planned obliteration of Iran to give peace one last chance, but Iranian negotiators…
Only the Middle East Conflict Seems to Matter These Days May 18, 2026 (139) Now into its twelfth week, the negotiating impasse between the United States and Iran and ongoing halt to shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to override all other factors affecting financial markets especially in the face of evidence of…
Taking a Long View of the Dollar May 17, 2026 A paradox of recent foreign exchange conditions is that while the phenomenon of upwardly shifting inflation prospects and downwardly shifting economic growth forecasts concerning 2026 around the world was a by-product of the U.S. decision to wage war against Iran, the U.S. dollar has so…
Xi-Trump Summit Is Over But Concerns about Iran and Inflation Continue May 15, 2026 The meeting between the Chinese and U.S. presidents exuded friendly optics but failed to allay fears about the continuing shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz and rising inflationary pressures felt around the world. More military confrontations were reported today from the…
Double Whammy of Iran War Stalemate and Evidence of Ensuing Higher Inflation May 12, 2026 Ten-year sovereign debt yields have climbed further so far this Tuesday by a dozen basis points in Great Britain, nine bps in Italy, eight bps in France and Germany, seven bps in Spain, five bps in Switzerland, and four bps…
Dollar Edges Marginally Higher, and and Equities Withstand Hawkish Language By Trump May 11, 2026 (140) Developments in the U.S./Iranian stand-off seem to be exerting lessening influence on financial markets. The U.S. president called Iran’s response to his peace proposal “totally unacceptable” and warned that ceasefire is on “life support.” The dollar, which is supposed…