Oil prices are extending their rally at the end of a third, volatile week of trade. That’s after slim progress in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, which is raising fears of tighter sanctions and a prolonged disruption to oil supplies. Susannah Streeter is Hargreaves Lansdown's investment analyst. She explains what's likely to have the biggest impact on oil prices.

#OilPrices #RussiaUkraine #BrentCrude

The US Federal Reserve has approved its first interest rate increase in more than three years, to address spiralling inflation. The central bank had kept its benchmark interest rate anchored near zero since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. With borrowing costs now on the rise, Fed officials are warning economic growth will slow.

For more, we joined to Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director in London.

#FED #InterestRates #USInflation

The US economy is gearing up for a hike in borrowing costs for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. While the move is likely to curb inflation, investors are still grappling with higher commodity prices in the wake of Russia's attack on Ukraine. More in this report.

#InterestRates #Inflation #CommodityPrices

Saudi Arabia is in talks with China to price some of its oil contracts in Chinese yuan, a move that may challenge the US dollar's dominance over the global market for crude and refined petroleum products.

Financial analyst at AJ Bell Danni Hewson, says if implemented, the agreement could shake up global energy trade.

#SaudiOil #ChineseYuan #OilPrices

Stock indices in the Asia-Pacific region fell on Tuesday, despite better-than expected economic data from China, and a reversal in oil prices that's expected to ease energy costs. But market activity throughout the rest of this week will likely be driven by statements from the US Federal Reserve. It's expected to share its outlook for the world's largest economy and begin hiking interest rates to rein in inflation.

OANDA senior market analyst, Craig Erlam joined us from London.

#AsiaStocks #China #OilPrices

Washington has warned Beijing against helping Moscow blunt the blow of international sanctions. That's after Russia said it's banking on China's help to withstand the crippling economic restrictions placed on it over the attack on Ukraine. Tayyibe Aydin reports and political and economic affairs commentator, Einar Tangen, joins us from Beijing.

#RussiaUkraine #Sanctions #China

Washington has warned Beijing over helping Moscow blunt the blow of international sanctions. That's after Russia said it is banking on China's help to withstand the crippling economic restrictions placed by Western nations over the attack in Ukraine.

For more, we are joined by Guido Cozzi. He's a professor of Macroeconomics at St Gallen University.

#RussiaAttacksUkraine #China #RussiaSanctions

As international sanctions and financial restrictions bite, many Russians are trying to protect their savings by switching to cryptocurrencies. But law makers in the US and other countries are concerned that Russian officials and oligarchs may also be using these platforms to evade sanctions and stash their wealth in safe havens. The Biden administration is introducing new regulations to tighten its control over cryptocurrencies. But critics says the move will yield only limited gains, if any. Amy Anderson reports.

Jeffrey Tucker is a crypto market analyst and the president of Brownstone Institute. He joined us now from Austin, Texas.

#RussiaEconomicSanctions #Cryptocurrency #CryptoPlatforms

The US and the UK have both imposed a ban on imports of Russian energy. Russian oil made up about 3% of all the crude shipments that arrived in the US last year. But for Europe it's a whole different story. Countries like Germany, Sweden and Romania depend on the country for around half of their crude imports. For Finland, Poland, Hungary and Estonia, it's closer to 70% or even 80%.

#MarketMovers #EnergyWar #EuropeGasDependency

Rising food and fuel prices are also taking a toll on other economies. Struggling to manage their finances, developing countries like Sri Lanka and Argentina are also being driven to seek aid from the IMF, despite the organisation's strict and unpopular austerity requirements. Tayyibe Aydin reports.

#GlobalInflation #FuelShortage #FoodPrices