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Europe Grinds to a Halt as Deep Freeze Triggers Massive Travel Disruptions

                                                   KLM scraps 600 flights in Amsterdam on Wednesday as snow continues A powerful cold snap sweeping across Europe has forced widespread cancellations of flights and trains, with conditions expected to worsen through Wednesday. Heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures, and hazardous travel conditions have already caused days of disruption across the continent, and authorities warn that the situation may deteriorate further. Severe Weather Shuts Down Air Travel Dutch carrier KLM announced it will cancel 600 flights at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Wednesday as it struggles with persistent snow and freezing conditions. Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, has been heavily affected since Friday, with thousands of flights disrupted and de‑icing operations running around the clock. Officia...

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Treasuries Extend Selloff Amid Hawkish Fed Views


The world’s largest bond market is experiencing continued turbulence as hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) views persist. Here are the key points:

  1. Asian Stocks Under Pressure: Asian stocks are set to open lower after US shares extended their losing streak to the longest since January. Equity futures contracts in Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea indicate early losses, while those in Australia and China gained. Investors will closely watch Asian chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Tokyo Electron Ltd.

  2. ASML Holding NV’s Warning: Europe’s most valuable tech firm, ASML Holding NV, reported a tumble in orders during the first quarter. Its China sales are likely to be hampered by US export control measures. This news has raised concerns for semiconductor stocks.

  3. US Bond Market: Despite solid economic readings, the US bond market faces headwinds. Jerome Powell’s recent comments have dampened rate-cut expectations. However, dip buyers emerged in the Treasury market, with two-year yields dropping below 5%. A $13 billion sale of 20-year bonds also drew solid demand.

  4. Investor Sentiment: Investors remain skeptical about how much further US stocks can rally after their strong performance in the first quarter. The latest pullback occurs even as US economic data point to continued strength.

  5. Dollar and Currencies: The dollar was little changed in Asia after falling for the first time in six days. Japanese yen and Korean won have also experienced significant declines against the dollar this year.

  6. Outlook: UBS Global Wealth Management expects the yield on the 10-year US Treasury to end the year around 3.85%. The Fed’s rate cuts, though delayed, are still anticipated, leading to further bond market adjustments.

In summary, the bond market remains sensitive to Fed communications, economic data, and global events. Investors should closely monitor developments as interest rates continue to be a focal point.


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