Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1444419
Name Current Change %Change Open High Low Prev. Value Close US MARKETS NASDAQ 15,210.27 56.82 0.37 15263.10 15319.03 15117.29 15153.45 EUROPEAN MARKETS FTSE 7,551.72 60.35 0.81 7491.37 7564.20 7491.37 7491.37 CAC 7,237.19 53.81 0.75 7235.47 7249.88 7183.38 7183.38 DAX 16,010.32 68.51 0.43 16054.93 16061.50 15955.54 15941.81 ASIAN MARKETS SGX Nifty 18,346.50 130.50 0.72 18222.00 18357.00 18204.50 18216.00 NIKKEI 28,765.66 543.18 1.92 28449.53 28814.31 28427.60 28222.48 STRAITS TIMES 3,254.98 8.61 0.27 3261.26 3263.65 3242.59 3246.37 HANG SENG 24,402.17 663.11 2.79 24069.52 24402.17 24069.52 23739.06 TAIWAN WEIGHTED 18,375.40 87.19 0.48 18348.39 18394.70 18255.38 18288.21 KOSPI 2,972.48 45.10 1.54 2950.78 2972.58 2950.31 2927.38 SET COMPOSITE 1,678.50 11.38 0.68 1676.03 1680.85 1673.00 1667.12 JAKARTA COMPOSITE 6,647.06 -0.91 -0.01 6662.40 6690.32 6625.76 6647.97 SHANGHAI COMPOSITE 3,597.43 29.99 0.84 3578.16 3599.50 3572.10 3567.44 20.1.2022 7 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS International Markets Global Indices Trading Date: 19 January 2022 Pound Sterling in the cross fire, political pressures and inflation scares rock global markets EXCHANGE rate volatility has increased over the past 24 hours with markets and central banks facing higher inflation rates, a surge in oil prices to 7-year highs and uncertainty over coronavirus trends. Overall, there has been increased speculation that cen- tral banks will have to tighten more aggressively. The Pound to Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate dipped to 1-week lows near 1.3575 before a recovery to 1.3600 while the Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate has again tested 23-month highs at 1.2000. Prime Minster Johnson faces major House of Commons test English Prime Minister Johnson remains under severe pressure amid an on-going scandal over the Downing Street party culture. He will face a sustained grilling at Wednesday's House of Commons Prime Minister's questions. Traders will inevitably be watching the drama closely, but the potential Pound impact is less clear. CIBC strategist Jeremy Stretch pointed to concerns over political developments; "The first reaction from in- vestors from outside the local market is 'sell first and ask questions later'." Marshall Gittler, Head of Investment Research at BDSwiss Group, commented on speculation over a no-confidence vote; "It may be that politics are starting to catch up with GBP. It's not certain that he would lose the vote even if they held it, but uncertainty is never good for a currency – except of course when the status quo is so bad that people think any change is likely to be for the better." Commerzbank analyst You-Na Park-Heger was not overly concerned over political tensions; "The political developments surrounding Prime Minister Boris John- son seem to be merely an aside for the FX market by the way, and that is likely to remain the case for now. Nevertheless, she also noted that BoE rate hikes have been priced in; "Expectations have already run quite far." ING still expects a firm Sterling tone despite political concerns; "Expect EUR/GBP to continue working its way towards the 0.8270/80 area (1.2075 for GBP/EUR) - despite intense speculation over PM Johnson's future."