News & Views

US technology shares led markets higher last week, while UK equities slipped as energy costs and inflation remained in focus. Record diesel prices added to pressure on households and businesses, while rising US inflation expectations highlighted concerns over the outlook for interest rates. This week, attention turns to US jobs data and Eurozone inflation for further insight into the balance between growth and price pressures.

Technology shares led a mixed week for markets, while UK inflation edged higher and oil prices eased. This week’s review explores the latest market moves, political developments in Germany and Greenland, and questions over the ECB’s future leadership, alongside progress on corporate climate commitments and the economic releases to watch.

Rising energy costs kept inflation and interest rates firmly in focus, as the ECB announced a rate increase and US wholesale inflation accelerated. This week’s review also explores the financial fallout from UK flight disruption, escalating US–Canada trade tensions and new sustainability guidance for advisers. Looking ahead, decisions from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England take centre stage alongside key economic data.

US equity markets rebounded over the week, led by technology stocks, while UK shares finished slightly lower. Investors remained focused on renewed energy-driven inflation pressures, rising government bond yields and the prospect of further interest-rate increases. This week’s review also examines record ocean temperatures, Nepal’s flood-recovery challenge and the key economic releases ahead.

Global equity markets moved higher this week, led by strong gains across US technology stocks. Elsewhere, rising Eurozone inflation strengthened the case for further interest-rate increases, commodities remained volatile, and geopolitical tensions continued to affect energy markets. We also examine the outlook for ECB leadership, climate-related risks to UK food production and the key economic releases ahead.

Markets remained broadly stable this week, despite further weakness across the major US indices and continued volatility in commodity prices. In this week’s review, we examine the latest US inflation figures, renewed uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the ECB’s warning over climate-related financial risks and the key economic data due in the week ahead.

UK equities proved resilient over the week, while US markets moved lower as technology stocks led the decline. Renewed fighting between the United States and Iran drove oil prices sharply higher and revived inflation concerns, while UK politics entered a new chapter with Andy Burnham preparing to take office. Looking ahead, markets will focus on UK inflation data and the ECB’s latest interest-rate decision.

This week, markets reflected a more cautious tone as investors balanced stronger blue-chip performance against renewed pressure on broader US equities and technology stocks. Political developments in the UK, easing inflation expectations in the Eurozone and falling commodity prices all shaped sentiment, while central banks continued to warn that stretched valuations, particularly around AI, could create risks if optimism begins to unwind.

Markets began March with a firmer tone, as improving risk appetite supported UK equities and a rebound in technology shares, even as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East introduced fresh uncertainty. Alongside steady disinflation trends in the US and renewed volatility in commodity markets, this week’s developments highlight the delicate balance between economic resilience and evolving global risks.

Global markets rebounded strongly over the past week, with equities posting notable gains following a more cautious tone earlier in the month. The improvement in risk sentiment comes against a complex backdrop of easing UK inflation, renewed US trade policy developments, and widespread weather-related disruption affecting supply chains across multiple regions.