Everything you need to know, Simplified! Oil, tariffs and rates: familiar themes take a new turn Summary Energy markets saw a sharp resurgence in volatility as Middle East tensions re-escalated, with Brent crude briefly topping US$100 a barrel – its first move above that level since late May – before easing back under US$96 on Friday, still leaving oil up sharply on the week The European Central Bank (ECB) held rates unchanged at its July meeting, but with a notably hawkish t

Everything you need to know, Simplified! A tale of two markets: the balance of optimism and anxiety Summary Markets were pulled in different directions last week, with encouraging economic data and robust earnings competing against rising geopolitical tensions and concerns around artificial intelligence (AI)-related investments Continued US-Iran hostilities kept oil prices elevated, initially pushing bond yields higher as investors worried about renewed inflation pressures Ho

Everything you need to know, Simplified! Markets stay calm as politics, oil and inflation risks keep pressure on bonds Summary A quiet week for markets, but a busy one for sport – equity indices ended broadly unchanged and bond yields pushed higher, against a backdrop of Wimbledon and England's quarter-final success US–Iran ceasefire collapsed, lifting oil prices and inflation concerns, but markets stayed sceptical of a material escalation given little US appetite to be drawn

Everything you need to know, Simplified! Markets rise, but investors keep one eye on politics and policy Summary Many UK investors head into the week in a celebratory mood as England progress to the World Cup quarterfinals, capping a generally constructive week for markets Global equities ended the week higher, despite a mid-week chipmaker selloff, driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) overcapacity fears European and UK stocks outperformed, insulated from AI fears by their l