Morning Bid: Apocalypse later

The week began with warnings of machine-driven human extinction, but the market soon focused on more immediate concerns, including Middle East energy disruption and the first Federal Reserve rate hike in three years. Leading AI companies have started calling for caution in AI development amid concerns of rogue agents and potential destruction of humanity.

US President Donald Trump, however, believes a strong and smart president is the only control needed for AI, and he argues that China would benefit from any slowdown in US AI development. This stance may be discussed during a scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Early in the week, jitters in the market were caused by the potential for a slowdown in AI development.

The Federal Reserve increased interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00%, with a more hawkish tone than anticipated. Investors approved of the move, but the hike may not address the key inflationary force of rising energy prices. The Middle East conflict continues to impact energy prices, with crude prices surging due to disruptions in Saudi Arabia's oil exports.

The diesel market has also been affected, with prices exceeding $6 per gallon in the US. Additionally, the Bank of England held its key interest rate steady but signaled a possible future hike if energy price volatility persists. The Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a 31-year high, causing the yen to reach over 157 per dollar.

Geopolitical events, such as the UN General Assembly and Xi Jinping's US state visit, will be key focus areas for next week's market movements.