The Return of a Familiar Risk: Stagflation
A weak US labour report and a surge in oil prices toward $119 have revived fears that financial markets may be entering a stagflationary environment of slowing growth alongside persistent inflation.
Page 2 of 2
A weak US labour report and a surge in oil prices toward $119 have revived fears that financial markets may be entering a stagflationary environment of slowing growth alongside persistent inflation.
Escalating tensions in the Iran conflict are lifting oil on supply fears and supporting gold as investors seek safety, making both commodities key indicators of global geopolitical risk.
The Middle East conflict has shaken global markets. Shares are falling while oil, gold and the dollar are rising on risk fears.
Despite fears of a “SaaS-pocalypse,” enterprise software companies are integrating AI into their products and developer workflows, with strong adoption and revenue growth showing that AI enhances rather than replaces traditional software.
China faces significant economic challenges, with upcoming fiscal measures anticipated to support growth amidst a troubled property market. Despite some positive signs, experts warn that more aggressive interventions are needed to restore confidence and ensure a sustainable recovery.
China’s stock market has surged following decisive government actions, including interest rate cuts and property sector support. However, deeper concerns about weak consumer confidence and deflation remain. Analysts argue that further fiscal measures are needed to sustain long-term economic recovery.
The European Union has approved tariffs of up to 45% on electric vehicles imported from China to counter alleged unfair subsidies and protect local manufacturers. This decision has raised concerns among member states, particularly Germany, about potential retaliation from China and its impact on European exports. Chinese EV makers now face challenges in adjusting to these tariffs, with some considering production shifts to Europe to mitigate the financial burden.
The Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates today, but there’s still debate about how much they’ll cut. Markets are leaning towards a half-point cut, with a 63% chance according to the CME FedWatch Tool. This decision comes at a tricky time, as stocks are near record highs, and a smaller cut could create uncertainty. JPMorgan says a quarter-point cut might dampen investor confidence, while BlackRock believes a larger…
Order Execution Only
Regulatory Documents:
CIRO: Avoiding Fraud and Protecting Your Investments, How CIRO Protects Investors, CIRO Complaints Brochure, CIPF Brochure, CIPF Coverage Policy, CIRO Order Execution Only Bulletin, Conflict Disclosure Statement, Covid-19 and Cyber Security - Tips for Investors, Relationship Disclosure Information Document, Notice of Acknowledgment, Before You Begin Trading
The relationship between Friedberg Direct and FXCM was formed with the purpose to allow Canadian residents access to FXCM's suite of products, while maintaining their accounts with a regulated Canadian firm. All accounts are opened by and held with Friedberg Direct, a division of Friedberg Mercantile Group Ltd., a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). Friedberg customer accounts are protected by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund within specified limits. A brochure describing the nature and limits of coverage is available upon request or at www.cipf.ca.
* The percentage of our retail client accounts that were profitable in each of the previous most recent quarters was: Quarter 1, 2026: 40% | Quarter 4, 2025: 49% | Quarter 3, 2025: 37% | Quarter 2, 2025: 36%. These figures are provided for transparency purposes only and do not constitute an indication of future performance or results.
Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices, other information, or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an "as-is" basis, as general market commentary and do not constitute investment advice. The market commentary has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research, and it is therefore not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of dissemination. Although this commentary is not produced by an independent source, Friedberg Direct, FXCM or its affiliates takes all sufficient steps to eliminate or prevent any conflicts of interests arising out of the production and dissemination of this communication. The employees of Friedberg Direct and FXCM commit to acting in the clients' best interests and represent their views without misleading, deceiving, or otherwise impairing the clients' ability to make informed investment decisions. For more information about the Friedberg Direct's internal organizational and administrative arrangements for the prevention of conflicts, please refer to the Firms' Managing Conflicts Policy. Please ensure that you read and understand our Full Disclaimer and Liability provision concerning the foregoing Information, which can be accessed here.**