Econmy

Gas Prices
Gas Prices Rush: “The Market is Slowly Starting to Wake Up”

Natural gas prices surged 30 percent on Monday as concerns about the effects of crises in the Middle East increased. During the day, they then fell back to a smaller rise and closed around 56 euros per megawatt hour.

Last week saw the biggest price rise since the 2022 energy crisis. Producers, including Qatar, have been forced to pause production. 

Gold Prices
Gold Falls: “Oil Has Set Off a Chain Reaction”

Gold falls on Monday as the conflict in the Middle East now enters its second week. At most, the price was down 3 percent from Friday’s level.

Last week was the first week with declines in over a month for the precious metal. Investors want safe havens, but not at any price, and the strengthening dollar has pushed the price of gold too high.

At the same time, the surge in oil prices has raised the specter of inflation and with it concerns about higher interest rates, or at least no rate cuts from the Fed. For gold that doesn't pay interest, that's bad.

- A price tag of $100 for oil has set off a chain reaction: energy shock, inflation expectations, a stronger dollar and weaker gold, says Hebe Chen, an analyst at Vantage Markets, to Bloomberg.

The aftermath also includes last year's rush into gold. Christopher Wong, a strategist at Banking Corp, believes that the decline could also be due to investors taking home cash. When that phase is over, gold's attractiveness should increase again.

Dagens börs
Economist on the stock market crash: “Nightmare scenario”

The stock markets falling globally and domestically is a natural reaction to the events in the Middle East, according to SEB's senior economist Robert Bergqvist.

– It is reasonable and logical, he tells Dagens Industri.

Oil prices have skyrocketed and uncertainty is increasing. According to Bergqvist, Iran has hit the Achilles heel of the world economy.

– It is a nightmare scenario for the stock markets because it increases the risk of stagflation, Robert Bergqvist tells Dagens Nyheter.