Strong earnings and resilient jobs data are prompting markets to rule out rate cuts this year. Semiconductor stocks continue to lead gains across the US and Asia, with South Korea and Japan hitting new highs, supported by AI investment. Inflation pressures reflected in China’s data release, rising oil prices amid a fragile Middle East ceasefire, and broader geopolitical risks remain in focus ahead of a busy week of data and events, including inflation releases from the US, Germany and Japan, the Trump–Xi meeting, the King’s Speech in the UK, and Kevin Warsh taking over the leadership at the Fed. Mensur Pocinci, Head of Technical Analysis, outlines the relative weakness in oil and oil and gas stocks, the growing vulnerability of the US dollar, and why a pullback in semiconductor stocks may be healthy.

• (00:00) - Introduction: Bernadette Anderko, Product & Investment Content