Stocks And Bonds Rally Despite The Apparent Lack Of Progress In The Middle East
Marc Chandler·2026-05-22·via All Articles on Seeking Alpha
Summary
The dollar’s losses in the North American afternoon yesterday have been unwound as hopes that a framework for negotiations between the US and Iran have faded again. The US dollar is consolidating in narrow ranges with a slightly firmer bias.
The euro was sold to a new marginal low since April 7 yesterday in what appeared to be a response to the stronger-than-expected US May PMI. It is trading with a heavier bias between about $1.1595 and $1.1620.
Since the BOJ’s intervention on April 30, the yen has strengthened in only three of the 15 sessions coming into today. The dollar rose to a new high for the month yesterday near JPY159.35. It has been capped at JPY159.15 today but has not traded below JPY158.90.
The rally to new highs for the week in the US S&P 500 and Nasdaq set the tone for today’s gains in Asia-Pacific and European equities. Nearly all the markets are higher today.
Europe’s Stoxx 600 is rising for the fifth consecutive session, for the first time since last November. US index futures are around 0.2-0.3% firmer.
honglouwawa/E+ via Getty Images
The dollar’s (DXY) losses in the North American afternoon yesterday have been unwound as hopes that a framework for negotiations between the US and Iran have faded again. A drone strike on the UAE, ostensibly from