Concerns about a second wave of coronavirus infections in the UK and Europe and the potential impact of tighter lockdown restrictions on the nascent economic recovery weighed on the markets.

There was further bad news for global shares as business activity appeared to slow in September in some of the world’s biggest economies (see Global section).

However, the technology sector, one of the strongest performers since the correction in March and April...

Global shares fluctuated as investors waited for some of the world’s major central banks to meet and then scrutinised the outcomes.

As expected, the Bank of England (BoE), Federal Reserve (US central bank) and Bank of Japan (BoJ) left interest rates unchanged and committed to maintaining their programmes of bond-buying, known as quantitative easing.

Sterling weakened against the US dollar after the BoE hinted it was ready to move rates into negative terri...

The pound weakened against the US dollar after the UK government announced plans to alter the withdrawal deal which set out the terms for the country’s departure from the EU.

With the Internal Market Bill, the government intends to change the rules governing the movement of goods between Northern Ireland and the mainland and state aid (subsidies to particular companies or industries), two of the key issues holding up negotiations of a free trade deal.

Despite hitting new highs earlier in the week, US shares tumbled on Thursday following a sell-off in several of the technology companies that had been driving the markets since the correction in February and March.

The ‘FAAMG’ shares (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Google’s parent company Alphabet) all fell, although they regained some of those losses on Friday as investors took the opportunity to buy them at lower prices.

Omnis view: While impossible to predict, ...

Global shares ended the week higher as consumer spending continued to recover in Europe, oil prices rose and the US labour market beat expectations in July.

However, tensions escalated between the US and China as President Trump ordered US companies to stop dealing with Chinese technology giants TikTok and WeChat.

Omnis view: Stock markets welcomed signs that the global economy is recovering from the worst of the damage caused by the coronavirus pa...

Global shares fell towards the end of the week as evidence emerged of the toll taken by the coronavirus pandemic on the US and EU economies in the second quarter (See US and Europe sections).

However, US shares ended the week slightly higher after encouraging results from technology firms announcing profits for the second quarter (See Corporate profits section).

Meanwhile, the US dollar weakened against the pound and the euro due to concerns about the...

The technology-heavy NASDAQ index hit a record high on Monday, and global shares rose after the EU announced a package of measures to boost the region’s economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis (See Europe section).

However, markets finished the week lower after tensions resurfaced between the US and China as they ordered each other to close consulates and the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US started rising ag...

Global shares ended the week higher thanks to reports of successful trials of coronavirus vaccines by two pharmaceutical companies, the prospect of further support measures from the Federal Reserve (US central bank) and an encouraging start to earnings season from US banks (see ‘Corporate profits’).

However, new infections in several US states and the reintroduction of lockdown restrictions hovered over the markets, while the reaction by Chinese shares to the...

It was a mixed week for global shares as new cases and a rising death toll in several US states threatened the country’s economic recovery and weighed on the markets.

Government bonds benefited as investors moved their money out of shares and into assets that are traditionally considered safe havens during times of market turbulence.

Omnis view: Shares continue to plateau after a sharp initial rebound from the drop in February and March. The ...