Global Market Trends (23rd Feb., 2022)

Politics, Biden, late afternoon, announced a series of sanctions against Russian banks, sovereign debt, and three oligarchs who reportedly have close ties to Putin. 

Commodities, West Texas Intermediate crude spiked to over $93 per barrel, before easing, while Brent, the global benchmark hit $97, as Germany announced plans to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia because of Moscow's actions in Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced. Natural gas prices jumped over 3%. 

Invasion and Inflation, The Russian gradual invasion of Ukraine is bound to hike the global price of Oil and Gas which will further exacerbate the growing inflationary trend. "Indeed, a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia will leave many central banks with itchy hiking trigger fingers in a quandary," Jeffrey Halley of Oanda said in a report. "The immediate impact would be an exacerbation of the rampant inflationary pressures globally as oil hits $130.00+ a barrel."

Digital World,  shares of Digital World Acquisition, the company behind Donald Trump's social media app Truth, rallied on brisk downloads. 

In cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin slipped below $40,000 following stocks down. 

SPOT MARKET  BY THE HOUR AS OF GMT 09:40  02-23-22