- Global stock markets are firmly lower, with the NASDAQ 100 tech Index and the Japanese Nikkei 225 Index reaching new 3-month lows. The selloff has been sparked by US Treasury yields rising to new 2-year highs. The 10-year yield reached 1.87% and the 2-year yield 1.06%. Markets are now implying a total of 4 US rate hikes over the course of 2022. Previously, 3 had been expected.
- The price of crude oil continues its strong advance, with WTI having risen by more than one third in barely six weeks. The price yesterday closed in New York above its 8-year high made a few weeks ago at $85.39. Trend traders may see long crude oil as a good bet right now, despite the falling stock market.
- In the Forex market, the Japanese yen is the strongest major currency, boosted by the drops in global stock markets. The US dollar rose yesterday for the fourth consecutive day but has begun to sell off in recent hours.
- Cryptocurrencies may be due for a significant breakdown, as risk sentiment sours. Bitcoin is looking more likely to break below key support at $40k simultaneously with Ethereum breaking below key support at $3k.
- Today will see releases of British and Canadian CPI (inflation) data which may generate some volatility in these two currencies as the data will affect the prospect of further rate hikes.
- Daily new coronavirus cases soared to a new global record last Thursday, with more than 3.3 million new cases recorded for the first time. Nearly one quarter of these confirmed new cases are in the USA. The World Health Organization believes 50% of Europeans will become infected over the coming weeks.
- Data suggests that the globally rampant omicron coronavirus variant, while considerably more infectious, has notably milder effects than previous coronavirus strains, with an estimated 70% reduction in the probability of hospitalization. This is potentially very good news for both health and economy. Pfizer have announced they plan to have an omicron-specific vaccine ready in March.
- It is estimated that 60.1% of the world’s population has received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccination.
- Total confirmed new coronavirus cases worldwide stand at over 335.3 million with an average case fatality rate of 1.66%.
- The rate of new coronavirus infections appears to now be increasing most quickly in Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, the UAE, Uruguay, Tunisia, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan.