05/06/2026
A great seminar at held by OMNIS Investments.
Geopolitical tensions, cautious central banks and resilient equity markets have created a complex backdrop.
Market-moving events
Middle East tensions persist. A ceasefire is in place, but the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, keeping upward pressures on the prices of oil, gas and key raw materials used in fertiliser, metals and semiconductor production. These supply constraints are likely to persist and could continue to influence markets in the months ahead. Central banks hold steady. Economic data was mixed and uncertainty remains high. Major central banks left rates unchanged while highlighting inflation risks. The Bank of England outlined scenarios suggesting further rate hikes this year, followed by cuts later in the cycle, underscoring the difficult policy trade-off. Equities diverge. Despite elevated oil prices, equities rallied over the month, led by the US as earnings came into focus. Mega-cap technology results beat expectations, though market reactions were mixed, with Meta in particular falling after raising capital expenditure guidance.