Cautiousness on the Wall – ‘Bob’ the international climate

Key Wall Street indexes are moving in mixed sign on Monday, with the Ukrainian crisis in the spotlight following recent White House warnings that a Russian invasion could begin at any moment.

Tensions in the region have risen as Russian forces continue military exercises near Belarus’ border with Ukraine despite repeated calls from the West for de-escalation. According to the Associated Press, Russia has gathered about 130,000 troops near the border with Ukraine.

The climate, however, has been helped by reports in recent hours that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has suggested to President Vladimir Putin that Moscow continue on the diplomatic route in order to obtain security guarantees from the West.

The Russian president is said to have given his initial approval to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s responses to the West regarding the security guarantees requested by Moscow, according to the RIA news agency.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Soltz is paying a visit to Ukraine and will then travel to Moscow in a bid to rekindle talks.

Indicators – Statistics

On the board, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 163.06 points or -0.47% to 34,575.00 points, while the broader S&P 500 fell marginally 0.03% to 4,417.55 points. The technology Nasdaq is up 75.19 points or 0.55% at 13,867.68 points.

Of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones industrial average, 9 are moving with a positive sign and 21 with a negative. The biggest gainer is Walt Disney with gains of $ 1.53 or 1.02% at $ 151.00, followed by Boeing at $ 214.06 with gains of 0.83% and Intel at $ 47.95. with an increase of 0.67%.

The three stocks with the biggest losses are 3M (-2.29%), Walgreens Boots Alliance (-2.24%), Cisco Systems (-1.87%).

At the same time, concerns remain about the forthcoming rise in US interest rates and the impact this will have on economic growth.

In an interview with CNBC, the president of St. Louis Federal Reserve Chairman James Bullard reiterated his call for interest rates to rise by 100 basis points by June by June, stressing that the central bank needs to reassure the public that it will defend its 2% inflation target. The latest data on inflation showed an annual jump of 7.5% in January, which is the highest level in the last 40 years or so.

Most analysts expect the Fed’s first rate hike at its next meeting in March to be 50 basis points instead of 25 basis points. previously expected.

Producer prices data for January will be released this week, as well as minutes from the Fed’s latest monetary policy meeting, which are expected to monopolize investment interest.

Meanwhile, the fourth quarter results period is in full swing, with analysts expecting S&P 500 companies’ profits to rise 31% from the same period last year.