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Wall Street drops early as bond sales drive Iran war
Wall Street suffered an early drop on Thursday, as the Iran conflict pushed up oil prices and 'the dollar' and triggered another wave of selling? in increasingly anxious global bond markets. Uncertainty sparked a new day of?see-saw movements. Asian stocks rose overnight after South Korea’s president ordered assistance for its battered markets. However, Europe lost gains when Wall Street reopened on the downside. Iran launched a barrage of missiles against Israel, and bombings of Tehran intensified after Republican Senators blocked a bipartisan motion in Washington to stop the U.S. aerial assault on Wednesday. U.S. Energy Sec. Chris Wright said that the impact of the war on the energy markets was a "small" price to pay in order to achieve military goals. Kristalina Georgieva, the head of International?Monetary?Fund, warned that it is already testing global economy's resiliency. John Hardy, a Saxo Bank analyst, said that the main barometers are the crude oil prices and the increase in bond yields. He added that the markets weren't prepared for a conflict lasting more than 1-2 weeks. Oil prices are heading towards $85 per barrel. The euro, the pound, and government bonds that serve as benchmarks were all under pressure. Trevor Greetham of Royal London Asset Management said, "What's quite remarkable is that oil prices haven’t dropped," referring to experts who expressed doubts about Donald Trump's recent pledge to provide insurance for oil tankers to protect them against attacks. The overnight action in Asia was again volatile. South Korea's KOSPI closed almost 10% higher, wiping out most of the worst daily drop it had ever experienced a day before. The recovery came after President Lee Jae Myung activated a $68 billion fund to stabilise the market, citing a need to reduce volatility due to "the escalating Middle East crisis". Nikkei in Japan soared nearly 2% while Chinese shares rose almost 1%. This was after Beijing's party leaders announced a target of 4.5%-5% growth for this year, as part longer-term plans. OIL PRESSURE The broader narrative was driven by concerns about energy. Brent crude has risen to $84.25 a barrel, and is still near $84 as U.S. trades gain momentum. Data from ship-tracking shows that around 300 oil tankers are?stuck' in the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic through this chokepoint has been all but stopped since the start of the war. Royal London's Greetham stated that the rising natural gas prices are causing bond investors to reduce their expectations of global rate reductions and consider the possibility of a hike. The yield on benchmark U.S. 10 year notes, which moves in the opposite direction of prices, increased by nearly 6 basis points, to 4.14%. The European market was also choppy, with the key German bunds market heading for its steepest week-end selloff in a full year. Traders now see a 60 percent chance of a rate hike from the ECB by December. After a brief pause in the previous session, the dollar has also resumed its gains. The dollar index, which measures greenbacks against a basket currencies, increased by 0.3%. The euro fell by the equivalent of $1.1600 while the yen dropped to 157.20 dollars. Gold, the traditional safe-haven asset, also sawsawed. Gold rose to as much as $5,175 per ounce, before falling back down to $5,100 during busy trading. Later, Christine Lagarde and other officials of the European Central Bank, including its President, will speak. Investors are looking for hints on the policy implications of the current economic situation. Joachim Nagel, the German Bundesbank's chief, has already warned that a prolonged war in Iran will increase inflation and harm growth. However, he said it is still too early to draw firm conclusions. Erik Liem, a Commerzbank analyst, said that the recent dynamics may also be relevant to March ECB forecasts. The cutoff date for most meetings is two weeks prior to the event.
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Flacks Group is'ready' to bid for Thyssenkrupp's steel business, if current sales talks fail
Michael Flacks, the CEO of Flacks Group, said that if current attempts to sell Thyssenkrupp's steel division fail, they would be "ready" to bid for it. Thyssenkrupp and Jindal Steel International have been in discussions since the autumn about a possible sale for Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe. However, these discussions are yet to produce a formal bid. Flacks Group was selected by Italy in 'December' to conduct exclusive negotiations on the sale Acciaierie d'Italia, a bailed out steel company. Flacks stated that "our main interest in Italy is now, but we're interested in major companies and, if talks about an acquisition of Thyssenkrupp Steel fail, we will bid for it." Thyssenkrupp shares rose as much as?2.2% on this news. Flacks said to the FT that he is also interested in acquiring British?Steel. A Thyssenkrupp representative said that the restructuring?of TKSE - which included the cutting or outsourcing up to 11,000 positions - had 'boosted the attractiveness of the division.' The company is?in positive talks with Jindal Steel International. (Reporting and editing by Toby Chopra; Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz, Jane Merriman, Jan Harvey; Toby Chopra; Additional reporting by Andres González)
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EBRD chief urges Turkey to fight inflation and focus on power project
The head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said on Thursday that Turkey should "stay 'on course'" in its fight against?inflation, and she praised the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the market fallout caused by the Middle East war. The EBRD president, Odile Renaud-Basso said that the bank will continue to invest in Turkey this year at a "very high level" and that the bank is looking into funding a high-voltage transmission system Ankara has planned for the next decade. Renaud Basso stated that the central bank had already taken swift action. She said that there is still a long way to go, but it is important to keep on track and finish the work. Meetings with Officials: Reassuring Conversations Renaud Basso spoke at the conclusion of a 4-day visit, which included meetings with Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek. She said, "Everything I heard (reassured) me that this progress is stable" about the measures to combat inflation. The Turkish central bank has slashed its interest rates from mid-2025 by 900 basis point to 37%, as the annual inflation rate dropped from 40% at the start of last year to 30% in January. A rise of 31.5% in prices last month indicated a slowdown on disinflation. An escalating U.S./Israeli war against Iran also threatens to push up prices. The central bank has already taken a number of steps to respond. On Monday it sold about $8 billion worth of foreign currency, which pushed the overnight market rate up to around 40%. Renaud Basso?responded that the EBRD is "looking into" Ankara’s plans to invest $30 billion over the next decade in a high voltage electricity transmission system. She said, "It is part of our discussion with the government." Last year, the EBRD allocated a record 2.7?euros for 54 projects in Turkey. This country is EBRD’s number one recipient. The funding for this year could include renewable energy projects and energy-related projects. The Turkish government aims to quadruple its renewable energy production capacity by the year 2035, and build new nuclear power plants. The network will transfer electricity to consumption centers and send excess electricity to Europe's neighbours. The World Bank has been in contact with Turkey to discuss funding of up to $6 billion for the upgrade of electricity transmission infrastructure. (Reporting and editing by Tomasz Janowski, Tomasz Chopra)
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Codelco and Microsoft sign AI agreement for mining operations
The miner, Codelco, a state-owned company in Chile and the world's largest copper producer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft to evaluate joint initiatives?in artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, automation, and digital security. Key Context * The agreement is initially for 18 months with a joint governance of?strategic tracking and operational monitoring. * These include the use of intensive data, AI to make decisions, autonomous operations and automation of critical processes. Both companies will be involved in the early testing of new products and solutions, as well as sharing international experiences. KEY QUOTES Working with Microsoft, a technological leader of the highest caliber, consolidates our position as leaders in mining. Codelco's Ruben Alvarado, CEO of Codelco, said that in order to cope with the digital transformation we are facing today, it is necessary to consider and process large volumes operational data. Microsoft Latin America's president, Tito Arciniega, said: "This alliance with Codelco represents the potential of artificial intelligence to advance the development of the mining industry and the Chilean market, by facilitating safer, efficient, and'sustainable' operations, with an emphasis on people, productivity, and long-term value for the company and country." (Reporting and writing by Fabian Cambero, Kylie Madry and Alexander Villegas).
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Starmer: UK to send four additional Typhoons to Qatar
Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister, said that four more Typhoon jet fighters will be sent to Qatar as the conflict in the Middle East escalates. He also stated that the UK's defence plan is the best. The cautious British response to the Iran Crisis and a drone strike on its key military base in Cyprus has led to doubts about Britain's military effectiveness. Starmer has also been criticized by Donald Trump for not providing enough support for Starmer's?strikes against Iran. Starmer said at a press conference that Britain had the 'right plan' and had pre-deployed military equipment in the region prior to the start of war. Starmer said, "My main focus is to provide calm and level-headed leadership for the national interest." It means that we must use our diplomatic and military strength to protect the people of our country, and also have the courage to adhere to our values and principles no matter what pressure is put on us. He said: "Britain is sending four more 'typhoon' jets to Qatar to strengthen the 'defensive operation there and in the?region. He said, "We have the right plan for defence." (Reporting and writing by William James; editing by Kate Holton, Michael Holden and Sarah Young)
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McGeever: The data on US jobs forces us to look backwards from the Mideast chaos and AI "doom"
Investors will turn their focus on Friday, at least temporarily, to a more familiar economic area: U.S. job data. Since the joint U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran last Saturday, the events have dominated the market's thinking. Fears of artificial intelligence throwing millions of white collar workers to the scrap heap?have been put aside. The U.S. non-farm payrolls for February and the unemployment rate will once again bring these concerns to the forefront of investors' minds, and depending upon the details, they may also be at the top of the agendas of policymakers. A poll of economists found that the median consensus was for a net increase in non-farm payrolls of 59,000 last month, which is less than half the January rise. The unemployment rate will remain at 4.3%. The jobs report is still closely scrutinized to look for any warning signs. These could include weak job growth or even net job loss, as well as an increase in unemployment. The monthly payrolls and other labor market data such as "JOLTS", layoffs and weekly claims for unemployment will likely be the lightning rods of the "AI doom debate"?about whether technology will ultimately destroy jobs, economic growth and demand. APOCALYPSE, HOW? Last week, the markets were abuzz with talk about an upcoming AI "apocalypse." Investors were trying to determine AI winners and losers. Bets on the Federal Reserve cutting rates multiple times this year also rose. Jack Dorsey CEO of Block Inc., who announced on February 26, that he would be firing nearly half his staff, openly cited AI, even though the fintech firm is "strong" and profits are improving. Some people think that Dorsey, and other CEOs or chief financial officers might blame the disruptive?power? of AI for cost-cutting efforts - particularly given the labor hoarding after the pandemic. Dorsey’s statement scared investors, but it was not surprising. A series of research notes and blogs describing the doomsday AI scenarios had been widely circulated. Investors and policymakers need to separate the facts from the noise when assessing AI's impact on the labor markets. This means analyzing hard numbers, which are often backwards-looking. It is a challenge to use that data to predict the direction of wind. The picture is more balanced than AI skeptics would have you believe. In a recent study, Professor Suraj Srinivasan of Harvard Business School and his team analyzed all U.S. jobs posted from March 2019 to March last year. The study found that after ChatGPT launched in November 2022 the demand for analytical, technical and creative roles increased by 20%, while openings for jobs that are most likely to be automated fell 13%. Goldman Sachs economists estimate AI is currently a hindrance to job growth by?5,000 to 10,000 per month. This is negligible in an economy which creates over 30 million new gross jobs each year. Goldman's economists believe that AI will eventually displace 11 million workers, or 6-7% of the total workforce. The technology will also create new jobs. They wrote: "We do not expect a job apocalypse." Another research indicates a similar direction. Morgan Stanley's survey of U.S. firms conducted in January revealed that companies in the industries most likely to adopt AI are more likely to hire and retrain employees than to eliminate or not fill jobs. A Dallas Fed paper published last week concluded that AI has both helped and replaced workers. Monthly U.S. Employment Reports are usually all about the headline numbers. With AI doomsday concerns 'rife', the details below the headlines could now take on a much greater significance and cut through the fog. You like this column? Check out Open Interest, your new essential source for global financial commentary. Follow ROI on LinkedIn and X. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast daily on Apple, Spotify or the app. Subscribe to the Morning Bid podcast and hear journalists discussing the latest news in finance and markets seven days a weeks.
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Central African Republic looks to Russia for support in energy
On 'Thursday, the leader of Central African Republic expressed his gratitude to Russia for its support in security and asked Vladimir Putin to assist with the country's serious energy problems. At talks at the Kremlin, President?Faustin Archange Touadera informed Putin that Russia's presence in security had enabled the December election that brought him back to office for another seven-year period. The West is concerned about Russia's increasing security role in?Africa, which has been at the expense of France and United States. The Russia's Africa Corps is a paramilitary unit that replaced the former Wagner mercenary force. It operates in many countries, including Mali and Equatorial Guinea. Touadera thanked Putin as well for the donation of Russian grain and fuel. He said that CAR was looking for more support. He said that the Russian Federation had a lot of experience in this area. Putin said that the two countries have good prospects for strengthening their ties, especially in agriculture and infrastructure. Russia wants to increase its economic and political ties with Africa, as part of a larger strategy to build stronger relationships with developing nations after its break with the majority of the West due to the conflict in Ukraine. Touadera has won the December election in the CAR, a chronically insecure country. He did this by campaigning on security and by enlisting both Rwandan soldiers and Russian troops to help him. The main opposition coalition boycotted voting, claiming it was unfair.
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The easing cycle of EM central banks is on shakier footing amid escalating Mideast conflict
Analysts say that the Middle East conflict and higher oil prices threaten to shift emerging markets towards a more "hawkish" policy. In the next two weeks, more than a dozen emerging market central banks will be meeting to discuss their monetary policies. Goldman Sachs analysts noted that "markets that have been under the most pressure are those that were owned by investors anticipating rate?cuts in CEEMEA, LatAm and Latin America) and that also tend to be highly sensitive to global supply side shocks." Global financial markets are gripped by fears of an oil price spike due to the U.S. - Iran war, which could lead to higher prices for consumers. The emerging Asian economies, including India, that are major oil importers, are susceptible to supply shocks. A deepening conflict with Iran could put pressure on external balances, currencies, and capital flows. J.P.Morgan analysts stated that "oil shock" could lead to more hawkish outcomes for Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. They also said the Indian central banks may stay on a 'prolonged hold' due to higher crude prices. Brent crude oil last traded at $83.47 per barrel, up more than 2%. Morgan Stanley stated that "DM Asia Central Banks will likely accommodate supply shocks (hold 'back on further tightening), but a few EM Asia Central Banks may not be able?to cut rates."
The UK's slow response to allies in the Iran conflict has raised questions about its military effectiveness
The UK's hesitant response to the Middle East conflict and reluctance to defend its allies have renewed doubts about the military effectiveness of the country, especially when the U.S. demands widespread rearmament.
Trump slammed Keir starmer, the British Prime Minister on Tuesday. He said that he had "ruined" their historically close relationship when London refused to allow the U.S. to use British bases for pre-emptive attacks on Iran.
Cypriot officials have also criticised London for sending a drone made in Iran to strike one of Britain's bases on the island. This prompted France, Greece, and other countries to offer support. The British destroyer will not be sailing until next week and it is expected to take a week for the destroyer to reach the area.
BRITISH MILITARY HAS FACED YEARS OF CUTS
Starmer has defended Starmer's actions by saying that British personnel will only be involved in legal and well-planned military action. Since then, British jets brought down Iranian drones. Britain has also resupplied air defence systems for allies and now the U.S. is using its bases to conduct defensive operations.
The initial response to the report has raised concerns about the readiness of the British military after years of cutbacks.
Simon Diggins is a former British Defence Attache who served with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. If he were to summarize the situation, he would say "The Brits don't take it seriously".
He said that Trump was "vulgar and rude" and "undiplomatic", but Britain made itself "operationally, and strategically", irrelevant, in spite of its advanced fighter jets, such as F-35s, and nuclear weapons.
BRITAIN STRUGGLES TO SET OUT HIGHER DEFENCE SPENDING
This latest spat comes after months of increasing tensions between Washington and its traditional allies.
The shrinking British armed forces have undermined London's attempts to be seen as U.S.'s most reliable partner in Europe.
The British army has shrunk to its smallest size since the Napoleonic Wars, with just over 70,000 trained full-time soldiers.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Britain is behind other European countries in re-arming with its gaps in armoured vehicles and ships, as well as ground-based air defense systems.
Starmer, who blames previous Conservative governments for the lack of military investments, plans to spend 2,5% of GDP by 2027, and aims at 3% after that date.
The government of the United States has delayed the release its defense investment plan for the coming decade.
Trump said that Germany, France and Britain are now competing with Britain to be Washington's most valuable partners in Europe.
Lack of preparation
Starmer's caution can be explained by the Iraq War, where Tony Blair's decision in 2003 to join the U.S. led invasion deeply divided the country.
Analysts said that while Britain may have been able to defend its hesitation on using its bases because of legal concerns, the failure of the military preparation in the area, as the U.S. gathered warships, fighter jets, and other weapons, was a major strategic mistake.
Tom Sharpe who served as a naval officer for 27 years, and commanded four British ships, said that the lack of a British warship in this region was the worst British decision he'd ever seen.
He said, "We can't make good decisions because of the thinness of our force.
The drone attack on the British Royal Air Force base at?Akrotiri in Cyprus has brought this lack of preparedness home.
Cypriot officials said they were angry that Starmer hadn't publicly stated that the U.S. wouldn't use Akrotiri. This was shortly before Akrotiri was struck by a drone believed to be from Hezbollah.
The rage of TRUMP may not affect the co-operation
Former diplomats, current officials and analysts say that although Trump is clearly angry with Britain they do not view his latest outburst, when he called Starmer "no Winston Churchill", as a fundamental shift in policy.
Michael Martins who worked in the U.S. Embassy in London during Trump's first tenure said that he didn't expect two countries to be "significantly decoupled" from each other when they are working closely on intelligence.
Starmer said that the U.S. and British "special relationship" is reflected by their high levels of cooperation rather than the words of the President.
The conflict in the Middle East is getting worse, and the U.S. isn't the only one who wants Britain to do more.
Bader Al Saif, associate fellow of Chatham House in Kuwait, stated that European countries need to demonstrate they can support their Gulf allies if needed.
He said: "I don't say that they should join in the war effort. But I think they have partners, including Gulf states, who they can support." (Additional reporting from Michele Kambas and Michael Holden, in Nicosia; editing by Alex Richardson.)
(source: Reuters)