- On Thursday, the global stock market rout deepened, with European shares falling and American index futures indicating further losses ahead after yesterday's selloff that erased $1.5 trillion in market value from US equities.
- Futures on the S&P 500 index fell 1.4% after the equity benchmark fell the most in a single day since June 2020 on Wednesday, amid growing concern that high inflation is reducing corporate performance. The Nasdaq 100 contract was down more than 1.5% as a global selloff in technology stocks gained traction. The Stoxx 600 fell more than 2%, with losses in all industry sectors, with personal care and financial services leading the way.
- Treasury yields fell about seven basis points as investors sought protection against further declines in risk assets, with the Federal Reserve planning to tame inflation through rate hikes and a shrinking balance sheet beginning in June. Most European bonds rose as well, with the yield on German 10-year bonds falling by more than a basis point. The dollar fell against a basket of peers, while the yen rose.
- China in talks with Russia to buy oil for strategic reserves.
- Turkey’s President Erdogan: Turkey will say no to Sweden, Finland NATO entry.
- Russia’s Deputy PM Novak: Oil production will increase in May.
- Germany’s Chancellor Scholz: Ukraine's EU accession is not a matter of months or a few years.
- Germany’s Chancellor Scholz: Putin will only be prepared to discuss peace when he has accepted that he cannot break Ukraine's defences.
