Markets posted their fifth straight session of gains Thursday, bouncing back from a deep sell-off that sent the Dow into a correction. Jurrien Timmer, Director of Global Macro at Fidelity, breaks down why there has been such choppy trading in the markets.
Timmer says the two years leading up to the correction were unusually quiet due to the markets firing on all cylinders. Last August was a pivotal moment for markets because the chances of corporate tax cuts spiked. Timmer says another factor was the bond market because it was way too complacent about the possibility of rate hikes.
The VIX index, which serves as a "fear gauge" in markets, spiked in recent weeks. Timmer places the blame on hedge funds and traders who were short volatility. He added that the fundamentals of the economy are still relatively constructive and volatility will settle back down.
Depositors withdrew savings, and investors broadly sold off bank shares as the federal government raced to reassure Americans that the banking system is secure following two bank failures.
Pfizer has entered a $43 billion merger agreement with biotechnology firm Seagen in a deal designed to bolster the pharmaceutical giant's efforts to fight cancer
The second-largest stablecoin — a cryptocurrency that is pegged to a fiat currency — USCD depegged from the dollar, hitting an all-time low of around 88 cents over the weekend.
The Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said all depositors at the failed Silicon Valley Bank could access all their money quickly, even as another major bank was shut down.
The Treasury Secretary, who emphasized that the situation was much different from the financial crisis almost 15 years ago, said the government would help depositors who are concerned about their money.
