Market calm in the face of multiple worries

Markets seem very sanguine about potential risks at present, despite tariff drama and more attacks on Jerome Powell, says Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at online trading platform IG.

FTSE 100 resumes its march towards 9000

AstraZeneca numbers have helped the FTSE 100 to outperform its European peers today, representing around a third of the index’s gains. But signs of a revival in US-China trade have helped lift Asian-focused names like Prudential throughout the session, and should provide the foundation for more risk appetite this week even as we await more tariff news.

Markets calm in the face of potential pitfalls

Investors have their work cut out for them this week – it was busy enough with inflation and earnings but now there are tariff developments to watch, plus the deepening melodrama over Jerome Powell and the Fed’s refurbishment work. Despite all this the overall market action has been very calm today, in a ‘calm before the storm’ moment. With the EU holding off on retaliation for now, the hope is that the two sides will reach an accommodation in the time left.