In the U.S., treasuries rose across maturities, after a brief inversion in a segment of the curve on Tuesday signaled the prospect of a recession. The S&P 500 dropped in early trading following warnings that gains of the past two weeks have the hallmarks of a bear-market rally.
Hopes of a de-escalation of the war in Ukraine faded away. In Europe, yields rose as traders bet higher inflation will force policy makers to end their era of negative rates sooner than previously anticipated.
Talks with Ukraine yielded no breakthroughs and a lot of work remains before a deal is possible, Dmitry Peskov said, underlining the difficulties facing efforts to reach a cease-fire.
The economic damage from the war in Ukraine is worsening across Europe as already-record inflation soars further and Germany faces a danger of recession because of its dependence on Russian energy.
The rally in equities globally remains fragile as the war in Ukraine drags on and President Biden is pressured into encouraging domestic production of critical minerals for electric-vehicle and other types of batteries.
Russia may expand the list of commodities for which it demands payment in rubles to include grain, oil, metals and others.
Germany triggered an emergency plan to brace for a potential Russian gas cut-off as President Vladimir Putin insists that the crucial fuel should be paid for in rubles.
The dollar slipped, the euro climbed and the yen bounced from a six-year low after the Bank of Japan pledged to buy more securities than planned and include longer-dated debt. Oil rose back over $108 a barrel in New York.
The Treasury yield curve’s inversion is fanning debate over the risks of a growth downturn as
Central banks globally begin to withdraw stimulus. Money markets in the U.S. are pricing in two percentage points of additional interest-rate hikes this year.
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. is considering changes to its European gas futures after prices surged to records and prompted some companies to curb trading.
