Weekly Investment Updates

Key Events: Russia actions exacerbate concerns about inflation and the US economy

Two key events drove the markets this week.

On Tuesday, then again on Wednesday, the markets were greeted with news of higher-than-expected inflation.

Key Events: The dominant news this week was the passing of Queen Elizabeth II

Stock markets bounced back last week, posting the first positive weekly return in a month.

Stock markets bounced back last week, posting the first positive weekly return in a month.

In another busy week for markets, risk assets in general retreated over the past five days.

Risk assets bounced back through the holiday-shortened week last week.

After a tumultuous beginning of June for markets, investors hoping that a Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting and rate hike would calm markets were sorely disappointed last week.

The latest year-over-year Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures, a commonly used approximation of inflation, were released on Friday and the numbers came in higher than expected (see graph below).

Risk assets slid lower last week as major US retailers Target and Walmart both missed earnings estimates.