Stocks posted significant gains on Wednesday after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled that the central bank would begin raising interest rates this month. Stock markets interpreted this as a positive signal in the sense that the threat to growth posed by the war in Ukraine did not justify a change of course in monetary policy at the moment.
THIS AUTHOR'S POSTS
Ukraine conflict: sanctions against Russia
Last Friday saw the West’s first reaction to the invasion. Both the US, the EU and the UK announced sanctions against Russia. These mainly target Russia’s largest banks, oligarchs and the export of technology goods to Russia.
Military conflict Russia-Ukraine
Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. The financial markets are reacting with price declines, a rise in the price of crude oil, a fall in the Russian ruble and price rises in credit-sensitive government bonds. We provide an assessment of the current market situation.
Escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine: are the markets at risk?
The Russia/Ukraine conflict is keeping the markets in suspense. Everything is possible – from continued diplomacy in order to contain the escalation to harder sanctions in case of a more comprehensive invasion. The volatility on the financial markets will remain high.