Watching Cracks in the Ceasefire and Rising Inflation While Awaiting Some Key U.S. Economic Data April 9, 2026 The U.S./Iranian ceasefire got off to a very shaky start. Amazingly, Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon was left out of the deal at least if the American narrative is to be believed. Iran is recounting a different story…
Electrifying Market Reversals after 2-Week Ceasefire Deal Averts Destruction of Iranian Infrastructure April 8, 2026 Although the evolution of the Middle East war beyond April 22 remains very uncertain, world financial markets sharply reversed prior trends, choosing to disregard the remaining hurdles that must be overcome to secure peace beyond the two-week ceasefire as well…
Suspense as Trump’s Deadline Draws Nearer April 7, 2026 The deadline for Iran to meet all of Trump’s demands is now just twelve hours away. Four hours of unprecedentedly massive destruction to the country’s power and bridge infrastructure will ensue. ….Or the U.S. president might move the goal posts and reset the clock, as he’s…
Extended Easter Holiday Keeps Many Markets Shut… But Glimmer of Relief Emerges from Rumored Scramble to Forge a 45-Day Ceasefire April 6, 2026 Most of Europe and many other markets (for example, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, Portugal and the Netherlands) remain closed for Easter Monday. These closures…
Next Week’s Menu: April 4-10, 2026 April 3, 2026 Central Banks: Monetary policies will be reviewed in South Korea, India, New Zealand, Serbia, Poland, Romania and Peru. FOMC minutes get published, and Chicago Fed President Goolsbee speaks publicly. Easter Monday Holiday: will be observed in several countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, France,…
Good Friday 2026 April 3, 2026 Most markets in Europe and many in the Pacific Rim including Australia, New Zealand, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia and Singapore are closed today for the observance of Good Friday. The U.S. Treasury market and banks will have a shortened day to allow some reaction to U.S. March labor…
Trump Speech Sends Shock Waves Through World Financial Markets April 2, 2026 The highly anticipated update from President Trump in prime time last evening failed to clarify the big questions of when the Middle East war might end, when or exactly how shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz might resume, what Iranian government would…
Colombian Central Bank Interest Rate Hike April 1, 2026 A split decision at the Central Bank of Colombia produced a majority of four votes for a full percentage point interest rate hike to 11.25%, set against two votes for a 50-basis point increase and one vote cast for keeping the rate unchanged at 10.25%. Colombian…
Dealing With MidEast War Uncertainty and Digesting Purchasing Managers Survey, Japanese Tankan and U.S. Data Releases April 1, 2026 President Trump’s forever-shifting latest comments on the Middle East war project another likely 2-3 weeks to the conflict. Opening the Strait of Hormuz in such a way that shipping flow is secure and at a normal…
March and First Quarter 2026 in Figures March 31, 2026 March was dominated by wild daily and intra-daily swings in financial vital signs as sentiment about the outcome and duration of the Middle Eastern war swung with each news flash, and investors tried to figure out the implications for the path of energy prices, general…