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Insights and research on global events shaping the markets

The hot commodity of the week: oil. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

U.S. stocks fell for a 3rd consecutive week as Middle East tensions and oil market volatility weighed on investor sentiment. Concerns about potential supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, stress in private credit markets, and trade policy uncertainty added to market pressure. The Dow Jones led losses (down about 2%) while the Nasdaq Composite declined less but still fell 1.26%. Recent U.S. data showed mixed signals on inflation and growth. Core CPI rose 0.2% in February (2.5% year over year), while headline CPI increased 0.3% monthly and 2.4% annually. Meanwhile, the Fed’s preferred inflation measure, core PCE, rose 0.4% in January, with the annual rate unexpectedly climbing to 3.1%, the highest since early 2024.

Surging energy prices shake rate markets, spreads face moderate upside pressures so far

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11/03/2026

The Iran conflict and resulting oil shock completely reshaped markets last week, driving a broad risk off move, sharply higher energy prices, and heightened caution across cyclicals.

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09/03/2026

Meanwhile, Europe’s import-dependent economy remains highly exposed to oil price shocks. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

Major U.S. stock indexes finished the volatile week lower as investors digested escalating conflict in the Middle East in the wake of U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, rising energy-driven inflation risks, and some mixed economic data. Oil prices surged amid concerns about potential supply disruptions and broader geopolitical spillovers. Uncertainty about the conflict’s duration and its potential impact on energy markets also drove U.S. Treasury trading, pushing yields higher as investors reassessed inflation risks and the outlook for Fed policy.

Rates fell ahead of the week-end’s strikes on Iran, while credit and Emerging Market spreads reflected rising concerns on the situation in the Middle East

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03/03/2026

Plus, Berkshire Hathaway’s cash peaks as South Korea’s KOSPI rockets. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

Major U.S. stock indexes fell for the week as investors stayed cautious about AI-driven disruption and global trade and tariff uncertainty. The Dow Jones dropped 1.31%, while the S&P 500 Index declined a smaller 0.44%. Stocks sold off early after a research report heightened AI risk concerns, briefly stabilized ahead of NVIDIA’s earnings, but finished the week lower as strong results failed to shift the broader risk-off mood

USD rates bounce up on hawkish Fed comments and solid US data, while corporate credit spreads stabilize after two weeks of Tech-driven widening

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24/02/2026

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