Igor Kuchma

While US markets are preoccupied with domestic political dynamics and speculating on the release of the non-farm payrolls report, European investors are turning their attention to the upcoming ECB meeting on June 6. The central bank is expected to announce its first interest rate cut shortly as inflation approaches the optimal level. Indeed, several governing […]

On May 29, the US Treasury will launch its first bond buyback program since 2002. With this move, there has been talk of a return of QE to the markets. But that’s not exactly the case. The central bank is not exactly printing money or monetizing debt. These buybacks are just a short-term injection of […]

For those who thought the days of the French Revolution were ancient, the recent protests and upheavals in New Caledonia prove otherwise. Just like two centuries ago, people are taking to the streets. But why is the world obsessed with this tiny French territory in the South Pacific? It’s not just because of what’s going […]

So far, the saying “Sell in May and go away” has not been true this year: the major US indices closed in positive territory for the third week in a row. The S&P 500 is within 1% of its all-time high now. There are three main reasons for this: 1. Strong quarterly results. About 90% of S&P […]

U.S. labor market data was released last Friday, showing that only 175,000 jobs were created in April. The markets reacted with a rise in the S&P 500 and a fall in the DXY dollar index. However, the extent of justified optimism remains questionable. Progress seems evident compared to March, when 315,000 jobs were created, excluding […]

Last week, the Bank of Japan predictably kept its short-term interest rate at 0.0 – 0.1%. The latest estimates suggest that inflation will remain around 2% for the next three years. Although the BOJ hinted at possible rate hikes in the future, it refrained from specifying the monthly government bond purchases to which it had […]

A combination of factors, such as geopolitical tensions and, above all, the Fed’s reassessment of interest rate cuts, has led to a correction in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, dragging cryptocurrencies lower. On the flip side, the dollar has gained ground, along with Treasury yields. Still, judging by the green numbers in pre-market, there could […]

Geopolitical tensions add some flavor to the markets, but they’re still not enough to bring them crashing down. Overall, the “risk-on” sentiment persists, almost defiantly, against all odds. Investors, seemingly under a spell, keep looking optimistically towards the future, turning a blind eye to the risks. Even digital assets, which took a hit over the […]

Although Tesla has regained the top spot in electric vehicle sales in the first quarter after a loss to China’s BYD, the company is struggling. Increasing competition in the electric vehicle market and falling demand in China due to economic tensions are causing a decline in sales for Musk’s creation. Tesla’s sales figures from January […]

In 2023, temperatures hit record highs thanks to the El Niño phenomenon, resulting in warmer surface waters in the Pacific and subsequently causing hotter and drier weather. Such conditions lead to a decrease in сocoa harvest yields. However, the real kicker is that 2024 could surpass it, which is not good news for anyone. Scientists […]