Weekly Market Insights – 22 June 2026

A week dominated by central bank decisions saw policymakers take increasingly divergent paths, with the Federal Reserve delivering a more hawkish message, the Bank of Japan raising rates to their highest level in decades, and China introducing targeted measures to support growth. Economic data pointed to continued resilience in the United States and Japan, while mixed signals across Europe and persistent weakness in China’s domestic demand highlighted an uneven global backdrop.

Markets responded positively as geopolitical tensions eased following an interim U.S.-Iran agreement that could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Equities advanced across most major regions, led by technology and semiconductor stocks, while bond markets reflected shifting monetary policy expectations. The decline in oil prices weighed on energy markets, the U.S. dollar strengthened on the Fed’s stance, and investors continued to navigate a landscape shaped by evolving geopolitical and macroeconomic developments.