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Washington Scales Back Regional Footprint Amid Iranian Warnings

Empty airspace over Iran, during a temporary closure of the country's airspace amid concerns about possible military action between the United States and Iran The United States has begun precautionary drawdowns at several military bases across the Middle East after Iranian officials warned neighbouring countries that American facilities could be targeted in the event of a wider conflict. The adjustments focus on relocating non‑essential personnel and reducing exposure as regional tensions continue to rise. Iran’s message to nearby states underscored its concern that any U.S. military action could spill over into the broader region. By cautioning its neighbours, Tehran signaled both its desire to deter potential strikes and its readiness to respond if provoked. U.S. officials described the moves as prudent rather than predictive, emphasizing that the drawdowns do not indicate an imminent operation. Instead, they reflect a shifting security environment in which Washington is recal...

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European Stocks Surge and Bond Yields Ease as Markets Scale Back Bets on Rate Cuts

 

European stocks surged to a fresh two-year high, and bond yields eased as markets scaled back ambitious bets at the end of 2023 on rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and other major central banks. The S&P 500 also edged higher, with the index poised to set a new record closing high, at the start of a week packed with big corporate earnings, European inflation data, Federal Reserve and Bank of England meetings and U.S. employment data.

The market is trying to understand the outlook for the U.S. economy as it is unlikely to require the deep interest rate cuts by the Fed it has priced in. Absent geopolitical shocks, the U.S. economy will grow better than expected with just a few areas underperforming.

The surge in European stocks and the easing of bond yields can be attributed to the markets scaling back their bets on rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and other major central banks.



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