Category: recession

Oil Slips on Demand Fears, Market Awaits Fed Decision

LONDON—Oil prices edged lower on Wednesday following fresh indications of weak demand, and as the market awaited a crucial interest rate decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Brent crude futures, which have risen by almost 3 percent this week, were down 30 cents, or 0.40 percent, at $75.02 a barrel at 1026 GMT. U.S. West…


World Stocks Cautiously Higher Ahead of High Stakes Fed Decision

LONDON—World stocks were cautiously higher on Wednesday as hopes that a banking crisis would be averted were tempered by uncertainty before a Federal Reserve meeting that sees the central bank caught between taming inflation and maintaining stability. Data showing British inflation unexpectedly rose to 10.4 percent in February boosted expectations for a quarter point rate…


Oil Rises for 2nd Day as Banking Fears Ease for Now

LONDON—Oil rose on Tuesday, extending a recovery from a 15-month low hit the previous day, as the rescue of Credit Suisse eased worries about global banking sector risks that could hit economic growth and reduce fuel demand. Sentiment across financial markets has improved after the UBS takeover of Credit Suisse, announced on Sunday, and after…


Shares Rise After Credit Suisse Deal, but Bank ‘Whack-a-Mole’ Not Over

LONDON/SINGAPORE—Global shares rose on Tuesday, after the rescue of Credit Suisse arrested a rout in bank stocks, but signs of stress in the financial system are making investors wonder if another lender may deliver a nasty surprise, and how central banks might respond. The Federal Reserve begins a two-day meeting later in the day and…


Wall Street Opens Higher as Bank Fears Ease, Focus on Fed

Wall Street’s main indexes opened higher on Tuesday as the rescue of Credit Suisse calmed nerves about a bigger banking crisis, while investors awaited the outcome of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meet. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 176.13 points, or 0.55 percent, at the open to 32,420.71. The S&P 500 opened higher by…


Safe-Haven Yen Jumps as Credit Suisse Deal Sparks Further Jitters

TOKYO/LONDON—Japan’s yen rallied on Monday as investors sought out safe assets after UBS’ cut-price takeover of its beleaguered rival Credit Suisse failed to quell market nerves. Under the deal, holders of $17 billion of Credit Suisse additional tier-1 (AT1) bonds will be wiped out. That angered some of the holders of the debt who thought…


Oil Hits Lowest Since 2021 on Banking Fears

LONDON—Oil prices fell on Monday to their lowest in 15 months on concern that risks in the global banking sector and a potential increase to U.S. interest rates could spark a recession that would sap fuel demand. In volatile trading, Brent crude futures for May fell $2.07, or 2.8 percent, to $70.90 a barrel at…


Global Stocks Sink After Credit Suisse Takeover

BEIJING—Global stock markets sank Monday after Swiss authorities arranged the takeover of troubled Credit Suisse amid fears of a global banking crisis ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting to decide on more possible interest rate hikes. Hong Kong’s main index slid 2.7 percent. London, Frankfurt, and Paris opened down more than 1 percent. Shanghai, Tokyo,…


A Mismanaged Silicon Valley Bank Failure Has Grave Consequences

Commentary This was undoubtedly the week that was. Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) failure sent the markets into the worst turmoil since the 2008 financial crisis. And, as I write this Friday morning, St. Patrick’s Day, there are “little fires everywhere” in regional banks that have unsettled markets. Most of them could have been avoided. What…


‘Not QE’ as Fed Trapped Between a ‘Rock and a Hard Place’

Commentary “QE” or Quantitative Easing has been the bull’s siren song for the last decade, but will “Not QE” be the same? Last week, amid a rash of bank insolvencies, government agencies took action to stem a potential banking crisis. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Treasury, and the Fed issued a Bank Term…