FISG Daily Market Wrap 11th November

AI Optimism, Inflation Pressures and Escalating US-Iran Tensions

Global markets moved higher as renewed enthusiasm around artificial intelligence outweighed concerns over persistent US inflation and the possibility of further Federal Reserve rate increases. Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 1.5%, while S&P 500 futures gained 0.6%. Asian equities also climbed, with technology stocks leading the recovery. Optimism around AI was supported by a positive outlook from CoreWeave, reports that Anthropic's potential IPO could command a valuation of $1.5 trillion or more, and OpenAI reportedly exceeding $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time. These developments reinforced expectations of continued investment across the AI sector. However, stronger-than-expected US inflation continued to put pressure on government bonds. Two-year Treasury yields rose 17 basis points on Tuesday, their largest increase in 19 months, as markets increased expectations of another 25-basis-point Fed rate hike next month. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee described the latest inflation report as disturbing, while Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson supported a gradual approach to further increases. In the UK and Europe, policymakers gathered in London to discuss the inflation outlook and the possibility of additional tightening. A leading think tank warned that the Bank of England may need to raise borrowing costs to 5%. Meanwhile, Australian home loans recorded a historic quarterly decline, highlighting the impact of higher interest rates on borrowing demand. Energy markets remained closely tied to developments in the Persian Gulf. Brent crude recovered above $92 per barrel as traders assessed the prospects for an end to the US-Iran conflict. Tehran, meanwhile, stated that it would not remove its enriched uranium from the country and warned that any US attack could trigger strikes against distant American bases, keeping geopolitical risks elevated. FISG Daily Market Wrap provides a concise view of the forces moving global markets, helping investors stay informed and better prepared for what comes next. FISG — Interstellar Group