Stocks and bonds wobble as global economy throws off mixed signals
==========

Investors have gone from bracing for a U.S. recession to positioning for the world’s biggest economy to keep chugging along. European growth is also better than anticipated a few months ago. The U.S. economy remains buoyant, maintaining pressure on prices. First-quarter growth came in well below expectations, as did April’s employment figures. Bond yields have risen and prices have fallen, wiping out all of last year’s gains. The S&P 500 stock index fell about 4% in April before rebounding in recent days. The euro zone economy returned to growth in the first quarter after a mild recession. British output grew in January and February. Oil prices increased sharply in March and April as fears rose about a broader Middle East conflict between Israel and Iran. Stocks fell around 4% in April after hitting record highs in March, before rallying again in May. The dollar has surged almost 4% so far in 2024, with bets on higher-for-longer interest rates sucking money back to the United States.

#Stocks #Bonds #GlobalEconomy #UsEconomy #EuropeanEconomy #OilPrices #Dollar

https://emeatribune.com/stocks-and-bonds-wobble-as-global-economy-throws-off-mixed-signals/