Geopolitical Tensions Lift Oil Prices, Strong U.S. Jobs Data Challenges Fed Rate Cuts Markets remain tense amid the wave of Middle Eastern war tensions. Israel’s attack on Lebanon and Iran’s retaliatory response on Israeli soil threaten to expand the conflict. However, markets have found some comfort in China’s decisive actions to combat the stagnation of…

Global bond yields continue to compress, signaling that markets expect more accommodative policies from central banks. While Europe seems headed for recession, China is reviving its monetary and fiscal tools in an effort to escape an increasingly entrenched deflationary crisis.

Fed’s Aggressive Rate Cuts Spark Debate as Economic Uncertainty Grows In alignment with bond market expectations, the Fed acted swiftly with a substantial 50 basis point rate cut, possibly aiming to make up for lost ground in August. The market now anticipates two additional 25 basis point cuts in the year’s final two meetings, scheduled…

The dollar holds steady, and the euro fails to advance. This sums up a week in which the ECB fulfilled its promise to cut interest rates, while U.S. inflation, at 2.5%, set the stage for a similar move by the Fed in what will be the final meeting before the much-anticipated presidential elections in November.