Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 18, 2025
3 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleGeopolitical tensions and the Federal Reserve's policy address are key factors influencing global markets, with potential impacts on oil prices and consumer spending.
A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole.
You know it's crazy times, when speculation Putin sent his body double to Alaska doesn't sound so outlandish. What does seem clear is that President Trump has shifted back to echoing Moscow's line, tweeting Kremlin talking points about Crimea and Zelenskiy.
Putin's position seems to be that Ukraine should give up all the land Russia has taken, and much that it has failed to take in more than three years of fighting. This has been repeatedly ruled out by Zelenskiy and European leaders, and it's notable they will be by his side in Washington when he meets Trump later today.
Markets have judged there is a diminished threat of further U.S. sanctions or tariffs on Russian oil exports, and oil prices are down modestly with Brent off 0.3%.
Share markets are mostly firmer as Japan and Taiwan make more records, and Chinese blue chips scale a 10-month top.
European stock futures are up 0.2% or so, as are Wall St futures. Valuations have been underpinned by a solid earnings season as Goldman notes S&P 500 EPS grew 11% on the year and 58% of companies raised their full-year guidance.
This week's results will provide some colour on the health of consumer spending with Home Depot, Target, Lowe's and Walmart all reporting.
For monetary policy the main event will be the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole jamboree where Chair Powell speaks on the economic outlook and the Fed's policy framework on Friday, though there doesn't seem to be a Q&A as yet.
ECB President Christine Lagarde and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey are on panel discussions.
Futures are about 85% priced for a Fed rate cut in September so anything less than dovish from Powell would be a setback for debt markets.
While Fed expectations are anchoring short-term yields, the long end continues to fret about inflation, budget deficit and the politicisation of monetary policy, so steepening the yield curve.
European bond yields have also been on the rise, perhaps in part on a realisation of how much governments are going to have to borrow to cover increased defence spending.
Key developments that could influence markets on Monday:
- EU trade figures for June, US NAHB housing survey
(By Wayne Cole; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
Futures are about 85% priced for a Fed rate cut in September, so anything less than dovish from Powell would be a setback for debt markets.
Markets have judged there is a diminished threat of further U.S. sanctions or tariffs on Russian oil exports, leading to a modest decline in oil prices.
Key developments include EU trade figures for June and the US NAHB housing survey, which will provide insights into consumer spending.
European stock futures are up about 0.2%, supported by a solid earnings season, with share markets mostly firmer.
The long end of the yield curve continues to fret about inflation, budget deficit, and the politicization of monetary policy, leading to a steepening yield curve.
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