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Hi @bertinpaul2000, Could you please take a look at the bottom right of the platform. If you see a message such as ‘invalid account’ or ‘no connection’, check your login details and try to log in again. Then right click in the ‘marketwatch’ window and then select ‘show all.’ You will need to select symbols showing the .S after, for example USDCHF.S I hope that it helps. All the best - Arvin

Hi @petersmyth, The "Not Tax Wrapper Enabled" would mean that these ETFs are not eligible to be traded on ISA accounts. You can trade them on your regular share trading account. All the best - Arvin

The Swiss franc continues to gain against euro as markets recalibrate; commodities and associated currencies continue to gain amongst the mayhem and with the risk profile of assets under scrutiny, will EUR/CHF break lower? Source: Bloomberg EUR/CHF Euro Swiss franc Russia United States Forex The Swiss Franc is making fresh 6.5 highs against the Euro as the Russian attack on Ukraine continues to unfold. The Swissie has maintained it’s safe haven status despite joining the coalition of countries that will confiscate Russian assets. There is a growing perception that Russia will extract some revenge on the EU through gas supplies. The EU, US and their allies are looking to block Russia’s foreign exchange reserves, meaning that it would be difficult to defend the Ruble and increase the difficulties to fund themselves. The Bank of Russia raised rates to 20% in an effort to defend their currency. The S&P 500 and the Dow finished their cash session only mildly softer while the Nasdaq had a small gain after all indices were deep in the red earlier in their day. Futures are pointing to a flat start to their day at the moment. APAC equities had a mostly positive day with only Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slightly softer. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was the notable outperformer, up over 1.4% at one stage. US Treasuries were slightly softer with yields steadying and inching up a few basis points. The 2-year note is back near 1.45%, after yesterday low yield of 1.41%. Hong Kong might be about to go into lockdown as the Covid-19 situation is deteriorating there. Reports are emerging that contact tracing is no longer updating, hospitals are stretched to capacity and that morgues are almost full. This could have wider implications for broader China and if the communist party maintains a zero policy to the pandemic. The PBOC set the Yuan reference rate weaker than expected today despite a slightly better than expected manufacturing PMI coming in at 50.2. The Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures contract traded a 10-year high overnight and remains at lofty levels. Wheat, soybeans and corn are all being sort after as supply from Ukraine and Russia evaporates. Crude oil remains at elevated levels with the many Black Sea shipping routes closing, adding to supply woes for commodities generally. The WTI futures contract is trading above US$ 96.50 bbl. The US and its allies are considering releasing 60 million barrels from strategic reserves. Bitcoin jumped on the possibility of the crypto currency gaining favour amongst the turmoil. The spot price is above US$ 43,200 at the time of going to print. Looking ahead, a series of European PMIs and CPI figures are due out and Canadian GDP will be released as well as the US ISM figures. EUR/CHF technical analysis EUR/CHF is trading at its lowest level since June 2015. Volatility has increased as observed by the widening of the 21-day simple moving average (SMA) based Bollinger Bands. A close back inside the bands could signal a reversal, but another close outside the bands might signal the beginning of a new trend. Nearby, yesterday’s low of 1.02761 may provide support while the pivot points of 1.03001 and 1.03266 could offer resistance. Source: TradingView This information has been prepared by DailyFX, the partner site of IG offering leading forex news and analysis. This information Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence any person’s decisions about investing or financial products. The material on this page does not contain a record of IG’s trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently, any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Daniel McCarthy | Strategist 01 March 2022

In this article we take a look at some of the key supply and demand considerations affecting the palladium price and its outlook, including the most recent influence of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Source: Bloomberg Shares Palladium Norilsk Nickel Automotive industry Norilsk Nickel Why has the palladium price been rising since 2016? Stricter emission controls in the automotive sector saw increased demand for palladium. Palladium is primarily used in catalytic converters for petrol/gas vehicles to help reduce carbon emissions. Why did the palladium price fall in 2021? In 2021, supply chain disruptions as the economy rebounded from the Covid-19 pandemic, saw a shortage of semiconductors/microchips used in the motor vehicle industry. The shortage has limited production and demand for the precious metal. How long will the semiconductor shortage last? The semiconductor shortage affecting the motor industry remains, although is expected to ease from about the second half of 2022. This is according to Fitch ratings agency and a number of carmakers including General Motors, Ford and Hyundai. Some of the reasons for this include improving capacity meeting a slower demand increase as the strength of the economic rebound (from the Covid-19 pandemic) starts to fade. How is the Russia-Ukraine crisis affecting palladium? Norilsk Nickel, Russia’s primary palladium producer accounted for roughly 40% of the global palladium supply in 2021. Palladium prices remain sensitive to the Russia-Ukraine crisis from the threat of disruption to production and exports. Recently imposed sanctions on Russia have targeted Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) international payments as well as banks. This can indirectly inhibit trade if exemptions are not given for these products. So essentially the short-term rise in palladium we are seeing speaks to supply concerns of the precious metal. Which countries import the most palladium? The US, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan are amongst the largest importers of palladium. This demand for palladium is supported by the large proportion of motor vehicles produced by these regions. Which countries (other than Russia) produce the most palladium? South Africa is the second largest palladium producer in the world and accounts for around four times more output than Canada, the third largest producer thereof. Which are the top palladium-producing companies in the world? While Norilsk Nickel remains the largest palladium producer in the world, other top miners of the commodity, as well as other platinum group metals (PGMs) are: Sibanye Stillwater, Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum. Palladium – technical outlook Source: IG charts The price of palladium (June contract) has broken firmly above the 2400 resistance level. The upside move suggests the recent high at 2710 to be the initial resistance target from the move. A break above this level (confirmed with a close above) could see 2875, possibly 3015 as further upside resistance targets. A pullback towards 2400 might still be considered buyable for trend followers, while a move below 2215 would consider the bullish momentum move to have failed. Traders who are long could consider using the dotted red trend line as a trailing stop loss consideration for the trade. In summary Tighter emission controls for the automotive sector have helped gains in palladium since 2016 2021 saw a decline in the precious metal as supply chain disruptions impacted demand Russia is the largest producer of palladium through Norilsk Nickel Escalating sanctions could affect exports of the commodity Regions that account for palladium demand form the greater share of global car manufacturing South Africa is the second largest producer of palladium Sibanye Stillwater (after Norilsk Nickel) is the second largest palladium producer in the world A short-term breakout suggests 2710 to be the next upside resistance target for palladium Shaun Murison | Senior Market Analyst, Johannesburg 02 March 2022

EUR/USD and GBP/USD try to recover while EUR/GBP stays side-lined amid ongoing crisis in Eastern Europe. Forex Euro EUR/USD GBP/USD EUR/GBP Pound sterling EUR/USD stays above key support, awaiting Russia-Ukraine developments EUR/USD remains above the May 2019, January and current February lows at $1.1122 to $1.1106 despite the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. While this support zone continues to hold, the early January and mid-February lows at $1.1272 to $1.128 may be revisited. Provided that the cross remains below its one-month downtrend line and the 55-day simple moving average (SMA) at $1.1302 to $1.1324, the February downtrend is intact. A drop trough $1.1106 would have longer-term bearish implications with the April 2020 low at $1.1019 and the minor psychological $1.10 mark being targeted. Source: IT-Finance.com EUR/GBP side-lined amid ongoing geo-political turmoil Last week, EUR/GBP touched and then rallied from major support, containing the January and early-February lows at £0.8305 to £0.8286, to £0.8408 before slipping back as Russia attacked Ukraine. Further sideways trading between these two extremes is to be seen in the days to come. Minor resistance can be spotted along the 55-day SMA at £0.8386 as well as at Friday’s high at £0.8408 with the 11 January low at £0.8324 offering minor support. Source: IT-Finance.com GBP/USD continues to recover from last week’s two-month low GBP/USD continues to gradually recover from last week’s sharp sell-off to $1.3273 in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As long as yesterday’s low at $1.3342 holds, the mid-February low and 55-day SMA at $1.3487 to $1.3504 should be in focus but may cap. Further up the 2021 to 2022 downtrend line, current February high and 200-day SMA can be spotted at $1.3643 to $1.3666. Only a currently unexpected fall through last week’s $1.3273 low, would put the December trough at $1.3163 back on the map. Source: IT-Finance.com Axel Rudolph | Market Analyst, London 02 March 2022

Hi @Lexim, The communication team sent out an email to clients that had open positions in the relevant affected stocks. We have share the list of affected stock on the community : Please be aware that Margin changes will occur on FX as well : I hope that it helps ! All the best - Arvin

Bitcoin, Ethereum, rallies in response to Russian sanctions; Chinese PMI data, RBA interest rate decision today as fighting in Ukraine rages and BTC/USD may target the 50,000 level if momentum carries prices above the 61.8% Fib Source: Bloomberg Forex Bitcoin BTC/USD Cryptocurrency Central bank Russian ruble Tuesday’s Asia-Pacific outlook Asia-Pacific markets look set for a mixed open as traders mull the latest developments stemming from the Ukraine conflict. US stock markets trimmed heavy losses overnight, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index closing 0.34% higher, but the S&P 500 shed 0.24%, securing a second monthly loss for the US benchmark. Investors flocked to the safety of Treasuries, particularly short-term tenures, reversing some recent flattening across the curve that occurred in recent weeks. The Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc attracted heavy inflows amid the volatile market landscape as traders assessed the latest western sanctions on Russia. Bitcoin, and other major cryptocurrencies, were big winners going into today’s APAC trading session. BTC/USD rose north of 10% over the past 24 hours, bringing prices to the highest levels since February 17. The cascade of sanctions being piled onto Russia from the United States and its allies, including the removal of major Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging system, has effectively marooned the Russian banking system from the global financial markets, casting doubt on Russia’s financial ability to weather the economic penalties. The Russian Ruble tumbled further against the Greenback overnight, with USD/RUB rising more than 20%. The sharp rise in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies comes amid a significant uptick in trading volumes in Russia’s Ruble and Ukraine’s Hryvnia, according to data firm Kaiko cited in a Bloomberg report. Russian oligarchs and others who fear being impacted by the sanctions may be fleeing to Bitcoin, given its perceived insulation from the traditional financial system. Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, requested major exchanges to restrict users with a Russian address on Monday. The response from major crypto exchanges has been mixed. Binance said it would block sanctioned individuals but would not freeze all Russian accounts. The possibility exists that western powers may soon target these flows, although Russia’s ability itself to sidestep sanctions through crypto is likely very limited. Meanwhile, crude oil is trading near the 96 level as traders move to price in a global market without Russia’s nearly 10 million barrels per day. Canada announced a ban on all Russian oil imports, although the country hasn’t imported any since 2019. Today, China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) will report February purchasing managers’ indexes (PMI) for its services and manufacturing sector. Analysts see manufacturing PMI dropping back into the contractionary territory at 49.8, according to a Bloomberg survey. That would be the weakest manufacturing report since October when Covid’s Delta variant and an energy crunch stifled factory activity. The services sector is expected to fall as well but should remain in expansion above the 50 level. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is set to report its March interest rate decision at 3:30 GMT today. The Australian central bank is likely to keep its benchmark rate steady at 0.10% despite robust labor market strength and lofty raw material and consumer product prices. Still, RBA Governor Philip Lowe may strike a more hawkish tone, in a further capitulation to relatively hawkish market expectations. The missing piece for an RBA rate liftoff appears to be weak wage growth, tracking at 2.3% y/y in the fourth quarter, allowing RBA policymakers to stand firm. The market sees over 90 basis points of tightening by the December meeting, according to cash rate futures. AUD/USD may rise if Mr. Lowe indicates a willingness to tighten monetary conditions sooner than previously communicated. Bitcoin technical forecast BTC/USD rocketed higher overnight, clearing above the 40,000 psychological level, the 50-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) and the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement. The next obstacle for bulls is the 61.8% Fib level and the falling 100-day SMA. A break above those levels may shift bulls’ focus onto the 50,000 mark, a level untouched since December 2021. Momentum looks healthy, with the MACD line crossing above the signal line and on track to cross above the center line. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is also moving firmly higher. Alternatively, a pullback may drag prices to the 40,000 level, where some support is likely to be offered. BTC/USD daily chart Source: TradingView This information has been prepared by DailyFX, the partner site of IG offering leading forex news and analysis. This information Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence any person’s decisions about investing or financial products. The material on this page does not contain a record of IG’s trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently, any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Thomas Westwater | Analyst, DailyFX, New York City 01 March 2022 12:56

USD/RUB: The Russian Rouble is now worth less than one US cent. And as governments and corporations impose extreme sanctions, the Russian economy could soon return to 1998. Source: Bloomberg Forex Shares Russia Russian ruble International sanctions during the Ukrainian crisis Vladimir Putin Karl Marx warns ‘history repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.’ Hitler’s Anschluss with Austria is mirroring Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the encroachment in the Donbas with the occupation of the Sudetenland. But as Putin assaults Kyiv, Russia is starting to resemble its own ghost of prior economic ruin. USD/RUB: Russian Rouble collapse On 31 December 1999, Russian President Boris Yeltsin ceded the Presidency to a 46-year-old Vladimir Putin. Yeltsin had burned through the country’s economy in the first Chechen war, despite reminding the US that ‘Russia has a full arsenal of nuclear weapons. He (Clinton) has forgotten about that.’ However, in 1998 Russia was running out of money. The IMF and World Bank lent it $22.6 billion to support financial reforms, and between October 1997 and August 1998, the Russian Central Bank spent $27 billion trying to shore up the Rouble. But on 17 August 1998, the currency became so devalued that Russia defaulted on its debt, causing economic collapse. Russia’s Putin officially invaded Ukraine on 24 February; like Chechnya, it’s a region he deems unworthy of statehood. And like his predecessor, he has warned the west that interference could result in ‘consequences you have never seen in history.’ But a Molotov cocktail of Ukrainian defence and Western sanctions could see Russia’s economy (USD/RUB) collapse before its President can declare victory. Ukrainian defiance ‘I need ammunition, not a ride.’ The soldiers of Snake Island and Babusya’s sunflower seeds. A destroyed bridge and widespread civilian resistance. Russia’s unprovoked invasion is playing out on 21st-century social media, with every smartphone as valuable as a German Stinger missile. The result has been a global outpouring of support, exposing the largest miscalculation of Putin’s career. Potential allies have abandoned him. China has said the two are ‘partners,’ not allies and will not interfere with US sanctions. Turkey has decided its EU membership is more valuable than Russian gas and is limiting Russian warships in the Black Sea. Germany has halted approval for Nord Stream 2 and is increasing its military budget by €100 billion. Canada is placing an import ban on Russian fossil fuels. Finland’s majority wants NATO membership and could bring Sweden in with them. Even Switzerland is breaking its famous neutrality. The EU has shut its airspace to Russia. As the war continues, Ukrainian public opinion shifts ever further towards Europe. And every day, weapons pour into Ukraine, making a swift Russian victory impossible. Moreover, this drawn-out conflict is a PR nightmare. BP and Shell are selling their Russian oil and gas interests. Netflix is refusing to show Russian state propaganda. Alphabet has stopped monetisation of Russia’s state media, Twitter is labelling it, and Facebook is banning it. UEFA and FIFA have ended their partnerships with Gazprom and suspended all Russian teams. Russian-made vodka is being boycotted. And Putin himself has had his blackbelt revoked by the International Taekwondo Association. Swift sanctions Worse still, the west has cut access to Swift for several major Russian banks and prohibited all dealings with Russia’s central bank. This has left Russia’s $630 billion reserves, stored predominantly in foreign currency, unusable. In response, Russia has raised its base rate from 9.5% to 20%, barred citizens from transferring money out of Russia, and suspended sales of Russian investments by foreigners. It says this ‘will ensure a rise in deposit rates to levels needed to compensate for the increased depreciation and inflation risks.’ And Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says ‘these are heavy sanctions, they're problematic, but Russia has the necessary potential to compensate the damage from these sanctions.’ But fearing a market collapse, Moscow’s exchange remains closed. Charles Stanley’s Will Walker-Arnott believes ‘Russia is increasingly becoming an economic pariah, increasingly isolated from the global financial system.’ Julia Friedlander of the Atlantic Council goes further, saying Russia’s assets have ‘essentially vaporised,’ as ‘these sanctions are hitting hard and went from zero to 60.’ Russia now risks repeating 1998. Regarding USD/RUB, 105 Russian Roubles now purchase one US dollar, up from 75 Roubles a fortnight ago. The European Central Bank says European subsidiaries of Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, are failing. Its share price has halved in two weeks. Large queues are forming at the country’s ATMs, as customers attempt to access dollars and euros as some credit cards stop working and withdrawal limits are imposed. Chris Weafer at Micro-Advisory believes ‘this set of sanctions is hitting ordinary Russians to an extent that previous sanctions have not.’ One Russian Rouble is now worth less than one US cent, and less than one Afghani, the currency of a failed state. It’s even worth less than a Robux, a make-believe currency bought with the pocket money of western children. Steve Hanke at John Hopkins University has calculated Russian inflation is at 69.4%, while Estonian MEP Riho Teras believes the war effort is costing £15 billion every day. And Rabobank analysts predict there could soon be a ‘complete collapse in the Rouble.’ This leaves Russia with a stark choice: Peace, a banking collapse or hyperinflation. Trade 100+ FX pairs with the UK’s No. 1 retail forex provider.* Enjoy fast execution, low spreads – plus we’ll never fill your order at a worse price. Learn more about our forex trading platform or create an account to start trading today. Charles Archer | Financial Writer, London 01 March 2022 15:20

Hi @Plamen, Thank you for your detailed feedback. I have forwarded your suggestions to the relevant department to be reviewed. We forward clients feedback from the community on a daily basis in order to improve our platform. All the best - Arvin

Hi @Patins, Cryptocurrencies are only available on CFD accounts. Make sure that you are not using a share dealing account. All the best - Arvin

Hi @Lexim, Thank you for you post. Polymetal International PLC has been placed on the list of Russia-exposed stocks. Therefore no new positions can currently be opened on this stock. As the situation continues to develop, IG may take further steps in relation to products with direct or indirect exposure to Russia, including limiting positions or increasing margin. It is on closing only to allow clients to close their positions. All the best - Arvin

Hi @tejas, You can call 0800 195 3100 in the UK. Our team will put you through a dealer. https://www.ig.com/uk/contact-us#information-banner-dismiss Thank you - Arvin

As Russia's incursion into Ukraine escalates into a structurally damaging war, the falling supply and rising price of Neon and Palladium could send semiconductor stocks soaring worldwide. Source: Bloomberg Shares Palladium Semiconductor TSMC Russia Manufacturing Palladium's price has soared since the start of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, rising 54% from $1,617/oz on 15 December to $2,492/oz on 23 February. And this dizzying price rally could continue. Russia produced 2.6 million troy ounces of palladium in 2021, representing 40% of global production. And the country’s Nornickel is the largest palladium miner in the world. Palladium price could hit a record high TD Securities’ Bart Melek believes that ‘if we see a set of sanctions that reduce financing and free flow of the material to the rest of the world, we could see a significant tightening of conditions for palladium probably in the not too distant future.’ And he’s predicted a ‘pretty significant rally’ for the metal, to a potential record high. Goldman Sachs also expects Palladium to rise, saying ‘the price of consumed commodities that Russia is a key producer of to rally.’ The metal is already closing in on the record $2,967/oz it struck in May last year. Moreover, the neon price is also rising. The noble gas is an essential material in gas-phase lasers used to manufacture semiconductors. According to Techcet, Ukraine is the largest neon manufacturer in the world and supplies more than 90% of the US’s semiconductor-grade neon. With Neon’s price previously soaring in the Russia-Ukraine conflict of Crimea in 2014, Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management fears a market repetition could happen, as ‘there's just real concern here that shipping channels are just going to get disrupted because of this Ukraine situation.’ Source: Bloomberg Semiconductor stocks to watch Even before the Russian aggression, there was already a semiconductor shortage arising from the wider supply chain crisis in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic. In simplest terms, the global economic shutdown saw demand for semiconductors fall. Then as the global economy reopened, demand exploded faster than the ability of supply chains to deliver, sending semiconductor stocks soaring. Deloitte now predicts the shortage will last through 2022, and potentially into 2023, hitting industries from car manufacturers, to smartphones, PCs, gaming consoles and data centres. The auditor expects lost sales from the supply crunch to hit $500 billion globally between 2020 and 2022. But with significant levels of palladium and neon supplies compromised across Russia and Ukraine, palladium miners such as Anglo American Platinum, Sibanye Stillwater, Impala Platinum and Northam Platinum with projects in stabler regions like Africa could see their share prices spike. Microchip foundries could also benefit. $600 billion Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, in a country responsible for 92% of global semiconductor manufacturing. It also designs chips, and will outspend Intel by $15 billion on R&D in 2022. Smaller Taiwanese proposition, United Microelectronics Corporation has only a $28 billion market cap. But as demand is currently far higher than TSMC can supply, this growth stock might also have strong potential. Then there’s ASML Holdings, ‘the world’s supplier to the semiconductor industry.’ The Dutch company counts TSMC and Intel amongst its customers and is now looking at alternative sources for the 20% of neon it buys from Ukraine and Russia. As it expects a limited impact on production, it could capitalise on the growing demand for microchips. There’s also semiconductor designer Arm Holdings to consider. Slated for an Initial Public Offering later this year, the Cambridge-based company designs 95% of smartphone chips worldwide and could now be an even hotter IPO prospect. Finally, US giants AMD and Nvidia are also semiconductor stocks to watch. While both have fallen from their pandemic share price highs, they are still far above pre-covid-19 levels. The challenge is that the higher cost of palladium and neon could send the price of semiconductors soaring, dampening demand. Of course, with fewer semiconductors being made they could both charge a premium on their products. A similar conundrum faces BP and Shell; oil prices are rising, but their source of oil is being cut off. Moreover, Russia’s RBC has reported that both AMD and Intel have ‘verbally informed Russian manufacturers’ that they are complying with the US Treasury department ban on exports of semiconductor technologies to Russian industries. Early reports indicate that TSMC is also halting supplies to Russia. While ‘consumer communication devices’ such as personal PCs and phones are exempt, the move is likely to see palladium prices rising further, especially if Russia escalates its response. And as the palladium price rises on contstricted supply, semiconductor stocks could soar. Go short and long with spread bets, CFDs and share dealing on 16,000+ shares with the UK’s No.1 platform.* Learn more about trading shares with us, or open an account to get started today. * Best trading platform as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2021 Charles Archer | Financial Writer, London 01 March 2022

Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures down -1.47%, -2.24% and -2.52% respectively during Monday’s APAC trade. Western powers decided to block Russia’s access to the SWIFT system. Source: Bloomberg Russia Ukraine ASX Petroleum Indices Shares Ukraine crisis, SWIFT ban, nuclear alert, Nonfarm payrolls - Asia-Pacific week-ahead The G7 countries moved ahead to ban some Russian banks from accessing the SWIFT payment network as part of the latest round of sanctions against Moscow. The bloc also threatened further sanctions over Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. In response, President Vladimir Putin put Russia’s nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday, marking a further escalation of the tensions. The fight in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv continued over the weekend even though talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held on Monday, creating a large amount of uncertainty that the market tends to dislike. Futures on US equity benchmarks tumbled at the Monday open, setting a sour tone for the Asia-Pacific markets. The SWIFT system is crucial to the settlement of trade in crude oil and other Russia-produced natural resources. Therefore, it marks the most stringent punishment against Russia so far. Sales of energy products accounted for over 60% of Russia’s total exports in 2021. As a result, crude oil and natural gas prices are expected to surge due to a potential withdrawal of Russian recourses, adding supply constraints in an already tight market. WTI crude oil prices leaped over 5% to $96.4 at open. Rising crude oil and other commodity prices as a result of the Ukraine War may lead to even higher price levels around the globe, putting pressure on the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy more aggressively to rein in inflation. On the flip side, however, heightened geopolitical uncertainties and the resulting economic impact may allow the central bank to hold back interest rate hikes. The Fed now needs to carefully balance the trade-off between inflation and geopolitical risks. WTI Crude Oil – Daily Source: TradingView APAC markets look set to kick off the week on the back foot amid heightened geopolitical risks. Rising oil prices are negative catalysts for Asia’s major oil importers such as China, Japan and India. Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost half a percent at open, while Australia’s ASX 200 index registered a small gain. For the week ahead, China NBS manufacturing PMI and US Markit manufacturing PMI dominate the economic docket alongside US nonfarm payrolls. Find out more from the DailyFX calendar. Friday’s US nonfarm payrolls figure will be closely scrutinized for clues about the health of the labor market and wage pressure. The unemployment rate is expected to drop to 3.9%, and some 450k jobs are expected to be added in February. Average hourly earnings are forecasted to grow 0.5% MoM. Stronger-than-expected figures may strengthen the Fed’s hawkish stance, whereas disappointing readings may lead to the opposite. S&P 500 Index technical analysis The S&P 500 index may have entered a meaningful correction after breaching below an “Ascending Channel” as highlighted on the chart below. Prices extended lower after the formation of a “Double Top” chart pattern, which is commonly viewed as a bearish trend-reversal indicator. Prices rebounded sharply from a key support level of 4,200, but the overall trend remains bearish-biased. The MACD indicator is about to form a bullish crossover beneath the neutral midpoint, suggesting that near-term selling pressure may be fading. S&P 500 Index – Daily Chart Source: TradingView Nikkei 225 technical analysis The Nikkei 225 index breached below a “Symmetrical Triangle” pattern and thus opened the door for further downside potential. Prices rebounded near a key support level of 25,770, but the overall trend remains bearish-biased. The MACD indicator is trending lower beneath the neutral midpoint, suggesting that near-term momentum remains weak. Nikkei 225 Index – Daily Chart Source: TradingView ASX 200 Index technical analysis The ASX 200 index formed a “Double Top” chart pattern and has since entered a technical correction. Prices formed a bearish long-range bar on Thursday, underscoring downward momentum. An immediate support level can be found at 6,960 – the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement. Breaching below this level may intensify near-term selling pressure and expose the next support level of 6,758. The MACD indicator formed a bearish crossover, suggesting that a technical correction is underway. ASX 200 Index – Daily Chart Source: TradingView This information has been prepared by DailyFX, the partner site of IG offering leading forex news and analysis. This information Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence any person’s decisions about investing or financial products. The material on this page does not contain a record of IG’s trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently, any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Margaret Yang | Strategist, DailyFX, Singapore 28 February 2022

EUR/USD, EUR/GBP and AUD/USD mixed as traders gauge impact of stepped-up sanctions on Russia. Source: Bloomberg Forex Euro EUR/GBP AUD/USD EUR/USD Pound sterling EUR/USD remains above key support in the midst of Russia-Ukraine conflict EUR/USD continues to hold above its May 2019, January and current February lows at $1.1122 to $1.1106 amid the fraught situation in Ukraine and stepped-up sanctions on Russia. While this support area underpins, the early January and mid-February lows at $1.1272 to $1.128 may be revisited, just as they did on Friday. On the way there lies the $1.1186 November low. As long as the cross stays below its one-month downtrend line and the 55-day simple moving average (SMA) at $1.1313 to $1.1324, however, downside pressure should remain in play. Failure at $1.1106 would have longer-term bearish implications with the April 2020 low at $1.1019 and the minor psychological $1.10 mark being in the spotlight. Source: IT-Finance.com EUR/GBP to remain above key support as traders assess developments in Ukraine Last week EUR/GBP touched and then bounced off major support, comprising the January and early February lows at £0.8305 to £0.8286, as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On Friday EUR/GBP rallied all the way to £0.8408 before dropping back to its breached one-month resistance line, now support line, at £0.8348 in the Asian session. Today the area between the 55-day SMA at £0.8389 and Friday’s high at £0.8408 is likely to cap with the 11 January low at £0.8324 offering minor support. Source: IT-Finance.com AUD/USD recovers from support as traders digest impact of stepped-up Russian sanctions Last week’s sharp AUD/USD sell-off in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended within the $0.7106 to $0.7083 support area being probed and it bouncing off it and rallying to Friday’s $0.7237 high. The support zone contains the August, late December and January lows and should continue to hold. While this is the case, the mid-December high at $0.7223 and Friday’s $0.7237 high are being eyed as well as the 10 February peak at $0.7248. The next higher four-month resistance line and last week’s high at $0.7276 to $0.7284 should prove difficult to overcome today, however. Source: IT-Finance.com Axel Rudolph | Market Analyst, London 28 February 2022

Markets have kicked-off the week nervously as hostilities continue in Ukraine. Source: Bloomberg Volatility looks likely to persist into the week as hostilities in Ukraine evolve and keep traders on edge. Some rapid-fire developments in recent days have shifted market sentiment. Risk assets fell at Monday’s open due to the latest sanctions on Russia and innuendo from Russian President Vladimir Putin about preparing the country’s nuclear force. Sentiment recovered as reports that diplomatic talks between Ukrainian and Russian authorities have been agreed to and would be held on the Belarusian border. The situation, as it has been from the start, is rapid, dynamic and fluid. Nonetheless, here are four markets to watch as the crisis unfolds. Oil The fresh package of sanctions over the weekend has raised the risk of a tit-for-tat trade war between Russia and the West, while the freezing out of Russian financial institutions from SWIFT could slow payments and trade flows for energy. The prospect of further supply disruptions fuelled another surge in oil prices, pushing the price above technical resistance at 95.60. After bouncing off trend line support, the trend for WTI remains skewed to the upside. Although upward momentum is slowing for crude, with the daily RSI showing bearish divergence and price failing to – as yet – make a fresh higher high. Source: TradingView The fresh package of sanctions over the weekend has raised the risk of a tit-for-tat trade war between Russia and the West, while the freezing out of Russian financial institutions from SWIFT could slow payments and trade flows for energy. The prospect of further supply disruptions fuelled another surge in oil prices, pushing price above technical resistance at 95.60. After bouncing off trend line support, the trend for WTI remains skewed to the upside. Although upward momentum is slowing for crude, with the daily RSI showing bearish divergence, and price failing to – as yet – make a fresh higher high. Gold Source: TradingView Price action continues to look constructive for gold, with the latest sanctions on Russia announced over the weekend sending price back above $US1900 as traders front-run the flight to gold as big-Russian-money assets are frozen. Despite the jump, sellers have again emerged above technical resistance around $US1910, in large part due to the rip higher in the US Dollar today. That level presents as the key one for gold, which if closed above on the daily charts may open a re-test of $US1960 resistance. On the downside, support can be found at around $US1880. US Dollar Index Source: TradingView A run to US Dollar’s, on fears of a liquidity shock to global markets from sanctions on Russian banks and the heightened risk of financial crisis in the county and perhaps across Europe, has pushed the greenback towards higher-highs. FRA-OIS spreads – a measure of Dollar liquidity, or the cost of Dollars – jumped to its highest level since March 2020 today, in an ominous sign for global markets. The US Dollar Index clearly sits in an uptrend, with the next resistance level to watch the index’s recent higher-high at 97.70. Meanwhile, support sits around the 20 and 50 day moving averages, with trendline support currently around 95.70. NASDAQ Source: TradingView Tech stocks have been amongst the most beaten up off the back of the Ukraine-Russia crisis, with the skirmish exacerbating inflation pressures and raising the risks of tighter global monetary policy. Bets for Fed rate hikes have been unwound today. However, the underperformance of growth stocks, as commodity prices fuel a rise in value names, has kept the NASDAW under pressure. We expect the index to open around 2.4% lower tonight. As price continues to expand its broadening formation, key support can be found slight above 13,700 and 13,000. Resistance is around 14,080 and 14,410. Take your position on over 13,000 local and international shares via CFDs or share trading – and trade it all seamlessly from the one account. Learn more about share CFDs or shares trading with us, or open an account to get started today. Kyle Rodda | Market Analyst, Australia 28 February 2022

Hi @eileen, There was a pricing issue on the chart that has been rectified since this morning. It seems that the lowest level didn't reach your Limit level at 7257.9. We apologies for the confusion. As mentioned on the chart, the data is indicative, if the actual price reached your limit the stop would have been triggered. If you need further assistance please reach out to helpdesk.au@ig.com. All the best - Arvin

Markets set for a volatile start to the week with investors fearing financial dislocation, greater shocks to growth and inflation – and even nuclear war. Source: Bloomberg Russia Vladimir Putin Economic sanctions Risk Inflation Stock Fresh sanctions and risk of escalation to fuel volatility Volatility is set to continue into the new trading week. And although last week ended on a positive note, it looks unlikely that level of optimism will persist today. Fundamentally, risk-assets moved higher into the end of the week as the West avoided sanctions on Russian gas exports and left SWIFT and other financial restrictions off the table. Boots on the ground from NATO and allied nations were also largely priced out. Nonetheless, things have taken something of a turn over the weekend, even if there are reports – as difficult as they are for the average punter to verify – of Ukrainian forces wrestling back control in the conflict after Western allies moved to tighten financial sanctions on Russia and partially lock it out of SWIFT. Some of these restrictions include the Russian central bank. In the long term, the ramifications of this could be huge. In an increasingly multipolar world, such financial warfare could push some countries away from the US Dollar and the financial system it underpins. Russian President Putin has put his nuclear forces on alert in response. In the shorter-term, it raises the spectre of significant dislocations in the financial world, especially in parts of Europe with deep connections to Russia – liquidity could be an issue – and raise the risk materially of a financial crisis in Russia that could ripple across the world. The threat to global trade remains fluid, a potential hit to economic activity There’s also the issue of trade. Last week’s rally in equities looked very premature, and realistically, rather than being indicative of a market efficiently and rationally discounting the future, it was more probably just a bit of headline chasing mixed with short-covering as traders ditched open positions going into the weekend. Why that may well be the case is that no one is naïve enough – in the short-term, the long-term is a different story because this too shall pass – to think this conflict is over and can’t escalate further. There remains after all the big question around gas, and other Russian exports, that could either be targeted by trade barriers from the West or be shut-off by the Russians to strangle the European economy. Both sides remain wary of the setting of a tit-for-tat trade war and the brazen self-interest of some European countries is evident, suggesting the bar to set off such a process is high. Germany is fairly dovish in its foreign policy approach on Russia right now, although some movement came over the weekend that hinted at it was looking at other ways to secure energy security. Even more egregiously, Italy – orchestrated by Prime Minister “Super” Mario Draghi – looked to carve out exemptions for Italian luxury goods, showing that the price of Putin’s human rights abuses and war crimes is roughly that of a Gucci handbag. Or as Lenin said: “the capitalists will sell us the rope we hang them with”. Despite hit to growth, the conflict could continue to fuel inflation Political economy to one side, there remains the risk of greater growth and inflation shocks because of war, sanctions and the breakdown of trade. Even in the best-case scenario, trade flows will be interrupted because of this war in Ukraine. Gas and oil is one thing, there are also metals and soft commodities that will be caught up in this. There are several implications here. But the macro risk continues to be another supply shock that fuels inflationary pressures, raises bond yields, and forces central banks to tighten policy to contain (already hot) inflation. The market is still pricing in a 25% chance, based on the Fed watch tool, of hiking by 50 basis points, and a 25 basis point hike is still considered a certainty. This, at a time when global growth could end up a little weaker because of the conflict, would be a significant headwind to risk-assets and increase the momentum in this downward trend in global equities, as well as fuel another push higher in oil and gold, at least in the immediate future. Source: TradingView Kyle Rodda | Market Analyst, Australia 28 February 2022

Beyond limiting some Russian banks' access to SWIFT, the freeze of assets held by the Central Bank of Russia is far more impactful; a currency crisis has begun for the Russian Ruble. Source: Bloomberg Russian ruble Ukraine Central bank Forex Commodities Russia Financial nuclear war The Russian invasion of Ukraine this week was initially met with platitudes and handwringing that has so often defined the European Union’s and United States’ (“the West”) response to crises in recent years. At first glance, a Russian economy 1. with a debt-to-GDP ratio around 18%, 2. over 80% of government-issued debt denominated in Russian Rubles, and 3. high energy prices having filled Russia’s coffers over the past year, seemed like it would be able to weather any economic or financial repercussions – so long as the invasion of Ukraine proved short-lived. But as the Ukrainian army and population have mustered a formidable resistance, the European Union’s and United States’ response evolved dramatically. On Saturday, the West announced that some Russian financial institutions would be cut off from SWIFT, the global messaging platform that allows banks to communicate and send funds securely to one another. Japan joined the West on Sunday in such an effort. Russian companies will have a difficult, if not impossible, time importing and exporting goods and services moving forward. What is swift? (Chart 1) Source: AFP Yet removing Russian access to SWIFT is incomparable to the other effort taken by the European Union and the United States: freezing the Russian central bank’s assets. The Central Bank of Russia (“CBR”) has roughly $630 billion in foreign reserves, most of which are now inaccessible. The immediate effect is that the CBR will not be able to sell foreign currencies (e.g. the Euro) to prop up the value of the Ruble, which was already under a great deal of pressure – falling to all-time lows – after Russia invaded Ukraine. There’s really no other way to put it: the decision by the West to limit Russian banks’ access to SWIFT and to freeze the assets of the Central Bank of Russia is equivalent to dropping a financial nuclear bomb on the Russian economy. While one of the immediate knock-on effects could be a potential reduction in Europe’s access to energy supplies – uncertain, considering there seems to be a carveout in the SWIFT efforts so that payments can still flow for oil and gas – the other is that the Russian economy will almost certainly descend into a sharp recession. No lifelines left The Russian economy is now isolated globally, with only China serving as a potential lifeline. But even then, the Chinese government has prohibited state banks from financing purchases of Russian commodities, a sign that China itself is not looking favorably at recent developments. EUR/RUB [orange] & USD/RUB [blue] technical analysis: weekly price chart (February 2012 to February 2022) (Chart 2) Source: TradingView Reports have emerged over the weekend that, in response to the West’s sanctions, bank runs have begun in Russia (as expected). Queues at banks and ATMs are widely reported in both traditional and social media, with Russian citizens no longer able to obtain foreign currencies. Russia’s Tinkoff Bank, the world’s largest digital bank and Russia’s second largest credit card issuer, was quoting EUR/RUB at 163.00 and USD/RUB at 153.00-171.00 – that’s effectively a 100% increase from where the market closed on Friday. Now unable to import or export goods and services thanks to the SWIFT sanctions, unable to sell foreign currency reserves thanks to the CBR asset freeze, and a Russian economy ringfenced from the global financial system, a currency crisis has emerged for Russia. Capital controls are just around the corner, as are likely interest rate hikes by the CBR to try and stabilize the Russian Ruble - but neither of those will prove effective so long as Russia presses foward with its invasion of Ukraine. This information has been prepared by DailyFX, the partner site of IG offering leading forex news and analysis. This information Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence any person’s decisions about investing or financial products. The material on this page does not contain a record of IG’s trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently, any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Christopher Vecchio | Analyst, DailyFX, New York City 28 February 2022

The Australian Dollar remains vulnerable despite strong retail sales data; AUD opened the week lower as demand for US Dollars dominated markets and the deteriorating situation in Ukraine is evolving. Where to for AUD/USD? Source: Bloomberg Australian dollar United States dollar Japanese yen AUD/USD Forex Shares The Australian Dollar remained under pressure despite Australian month-on-month retail sales rising by 1.8% for January, against 0.3% expected and a prior number of -4.4%. The solid number is likely a result of the further easing of restrictions as the nation emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic. Private credit data also hit the wires, with the month-on-month number coming in at 0.6% for January, against 0.7% forecast and the previous print of -4.4%. However, the market is focused on the unfolding events around the military conflict in Ukraine. The fallout of excluding Russia from the international payment system, SWIFT, has yet to be fully revealed, but there are reports emerging that several Russian banks could fail in the coming days. Other sanctions appear to be likely to be announced in the days ahead. This uncertainty could see the Aussie subject to higher than usual volatility. In periods of uncertainty the Australian Dollar can be exposed as investors seek so called “safe haven” assets, such as the US Dollar. The Japanese Yen may also benefit in this risk-off environment and the AUD/JPY cross rate might be worth watching to gauge market sentiment. The RBA will meet on Tuesday and are expected to keep rates on hold. While the asset purchase program was deleted at the last meeting, the market will be focused on any announcement regarding the future of the assets they already own. The general consensus is that they are likely to let these assets mature, rather than sell them back to the market. Fourth quarter Australian GDP data is due out on Wednesday, the market is anticipating 3% growth for the period. AUD/USD technical analysis On Wednesday last week, AUD/USD broke above 2 previous highs and the 100-day simple moving average (SMA). It then retreated back below them to then create a shooting star candlestick pattern which could signal a reversal. The previous highs of 0.72488, 0.72768 and 0.73143 as well as the 100-day SMA may continue to offer resistance. Support might be at the recent lows of 0.70863, 0.70518 and 0.69676. The 21-day SMA could also provide support, a close below it may indicate bearish momentum. Source: TradingView This information has been prepared by DailyFX, the partner site of IG offering leading forex news and analysis. This information Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence any person’s decisions about investing or financial products. The material on this page does not contain a record of IG’s trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently, any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Daniel McCarthy | Strategist 28 February 2022

Hi @HARSH2290, It is possible that you need to verify your card or bank account depending on how you deposited funds and how you would like to withdraw. Please reach out to helpdesk.au@ig.com with your account detail for further assistance. All the best - Arvin

The catastrophic impact on the energy and commodity markets will start to unfold as Russia is a major producer of oil, gas, aluminium, and wheat. Source: Bloomberg Brent Crude Price of oil Aluminium Natural gas Russia Commodities Energy prices are under the spotlight this week as the Ukraine and Russia crisis escalates each day. Oil prices skyrocketed after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order to send “peacekeeping forces” to the two breakaway areas of Ukraine, a signal viewed as the first move for a Ukraine invasion. The catastrophic impact on the energy and commodity market will start to unfold as Russia is a major producer of oil, gas, aluminium, and wheat. Brent Crude: New 7-year-high Crude oil prices have rallied to near $100 a barrel, and US’s sanctions on Russian oil exports will only exacerbate the supply issue and push the prices higher. Brent Crude was up 3% on Tuesday with a new record of $96.93. Both short-term and mid-term momentum is poised to a higher outlook as 20 and 50 days MA has painted a steep straight line pointing north Current support is at $94.09. Next support can be found from 20 days, moving at an average of $91.83 Weekly charts show that the long-term trend line will continue since April 2020 For buyers waiting for an entry point once the price pulls back, the RSI dictator suggest to keep close eye on the level around 41. Brent Crude Daily Chart Source: IG Brent Crude Weekly Chart Source: IG Natural Gas: 10-month long uptrend remain valid Natural gas prices pulled back to its 100 days moving average after three straight days’ rise to the resistance level at 4670. However, long-term uptrend looks more likely to stay as the pathway since April 2021 from the weekly chart remain valid. Next support can be found at 4335 before the 50 days moving average come to the fore. The level of 4670 will exercise as pressure again once the price of Natural gas bounced back. Natural Gas Daily Chart Source: IG Natural Gas Weekly Chart Source: IG Aluminium: 11% up this month The price of Aluminium did not stop breaking records this week. The new record for the key construction commodity was created on Tuesday at 3379.6, which is already 11% higher than its price on the 1st of February. The recent high from February 10th, of 3334 will turn to be the current support while 3301 is another notable level. In terms of near-term targets, the upper boundary of the moving tunnel in between $3431-$3443 should be seen in the coming days. Aluminium Daily Chart Source: IG Take your position on over 13,000 local and international shares via CFDs or share trading – and trade it all seamlessly from the one account. Learn more about share CFDs or shares trading with us, or open an account to get started today. Hebe Chen | Market Analyst, Australia 25 February 2022

Wall Street stocks rebounded from deep losses Thursday as investors assessed western sanctions on Russia. Crude oil and gold prices retreated from intraday highs. APAC equities may open higher. Source: Bloomberg S&P 500 Price of oil Russia Indices Shares Commodities S&P 500, Hang Seng Index, ASX 200 Index Outlook Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indexes closed +0.28%, +1.50% and +3.44% respectively Ukraine crisis escalated rapidly after Putin ordered military attack on its neighbour. But US and EU sanctions against Russia appear to have fallen short of expectations, alleviating concerns over tightening oil supply Asia-Pacific markets look set to open higher following a strong US lead, as investors assess geopolitical risks and rising bets on Fed rate hikes. Ukraine crisis, gold, oil, Alibaba, Asia-Pacific at open Wall Street equities rebounded from deep losses during late hour trade on Thursday despite an abrupt escalation in geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe. the Nasdaq 100 index led the rebound, erasing initial losses and finishing 3.4% higher. Dip-buyers appeared to have returned looking for bargain hunting opportunities as investors assessed the latest round of Western sanctions against Russia, the severity of which seems have fallen short of expectations. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military attack on Ukraineon Thursday, a move that boosted market volatility. Putin said Russia doesn’t plan to “occupy” its neighbor, but that action was necessary after the US and its allies crossed Russia’s bottom line by expanding the NATO alliance. Russian forces are reportedly pushing closer to occupy Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city. President Joe Biden retaliated with stiffer penalties, including actions against five major Russian banks. The sanctions do not include barring the nation from the SWIFT payment network, which is crucial to the settlement of crude oil and other natural recourses for Russia. There is also a lack of evidence to restrict Russian oil and gas exports, which are important source of energy to the European Union. This may explain the wild swing in equities, crude oil and gold overnight, as investors shrugged off concerns about tougher punishments from the west that may add supply constraints to the energy market. Gold prices pulled back to $1,910 from an intraday high of $1,974 – a level not seen since September 2020 – as heaven-demand ebbed during the late hours of trading. Still, heightened geopolitical risk is expected to keep the yellow metal afloat as the Ukraine situation remains highly fluid and ambiguous. Brent Crude oil prices retreated to below the $100 mark as traders assessed the impact of Western sanctions, which left Russian oil exports largely intact. Meanwhile, the US is working with major consuming nations to coordinate releases from strategic reserves to contain rising energy prices. Rising oil prices will translate into higher inflation, which may urge the Federal Reserve and other central banks to consider more aggressive tightening approaches. The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rate by 25bps at the March FOMC meeting. With oil prices surging towards $100 bbl, the likelihood of an earlier hike is probably rising. WTI Crude Oil – Daily Source: TradingView Asia-Pacific markets look set to open mixed on Friday following a positive lead on Wall Street.Futures in Japan, Australia, Singapore, India and Indonesia are in the green, whereas those in mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand are in the red. Alibaba reported quarterly earnings that fell slightly short of market expectations. Revenue came in at 242.6 billion yuan, compared to a 246.4 billion yuan estimate. EPS came in at 16.87 yuan, versus a 16.18 estimate. The 10% YoY growth in revenue is the slowest pace of growth since the company is listed in 2014. The e-commerce giant is facing multiple headwinds including a slowing economy, tepid consumer spending, intensified competition and regulatory scrutiny. Alibaba’s share price has fallen over 60% from its 2020 peak. Looking back to Thursday’s close, 7 out of 11 S&P 500 sectors ended higher, with 61.6% of the index’s constituents closing in the green. Information technology (+3.45%), communication services (+3.13%) and consumer discretionary (+2.52%) were among the best performers, whereas defensive-oriented consumer staples (-1.71%) and financials (-1.18%) trailed behind. Nasdaq 100 Technical Analysis The Nasdaq 100 index is trending lower within a “Descending Channel” as highlighted on the chart below. Prices formed consecutive lower highs and lows over the past few weeks, underscoring a downward trajectory. An immediate support level can be found at 13,660 – the 161.8% Fibonacci extension. The MACD indicator is flattening beneath the neutral midpoint, suggesting that the overall momentum remains weak. Nasdaq 100 Index– Daily Chart Source: TradingView Hang Seng Index Technical Analysis The Hang Seng Index (HSI) breached below an “Ascending Channel” as highlighted on the chart below, suggesting that near-term trend has turned bearish. Prices are testing an immediate support level of 22,800 – the previous low seen in the end of December and early January. Holding above this level may pave the way for a technical rebound. The MACD indicator formed a bearish crossover and trended lower, underscoring bearish momentum. Hang Seng Index – Daily Chart Source: TradingView ASX 200 Index Technical Analysis The ASX 200 index formed a “Double Top” chart pattern and has since entered a technical correction. Prices formed a bearish long-range bar on Thursday, underscoring downward momentum. An immediate support level can be found at 6,960 – the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement. Breaching below this level may intensify near-term selling pressure and expose the next support level of 6,758. The MACD indicator formed a bearish crossover, suggesting that a technical correction is underway. ASX 200 Index – Daily Chart Source: TradingView This information has been prepared by DailyFX, the partner site of IG offering leading forex news and analysis. This information Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence any person’s decisions about investing or financial products. The material on this page does not contain a record of IG’s trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently, any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Margaret Yang | Strategist, DailyFX, Singapore | Publication date: Friday 25 February 2022 14:26

S&P 500 enters a correction while Nasdaq sits at nearly 20% lower from its peak. Source: Bloomberg S&P 500 Nasdaq Indices Shares Nord Stream S&P Global Ratings Stocks market’s crush accelerated on Thursday due to the growing geopolitical tension amid more countries joining the party to impose sanctions on Russia. The European Union applied sanctions to 23 high-ranking Russians and U.S. President Joe Biden targeted the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline builder that runs from Russia to Germany. Australia also shows great support for Ukrainian by calling the world to “stand up to bullies”. S&P 500: Enter into correction This week’s sharp decline has sent the S&P 500 into correction territory, defined as a 10% drop from a recent high, which can be traced back to the 13th of January at around 4748. By the end of Wednesday’s trading session, the index has wiped off all the gains from June 2021. Next support in view will be the start point for the six-month-long rally from June 2021 to December 2021, looking at around 4141. The most recent lowest level in January at 4284 became the imminent resistance level for S&P 500 to challenge, which, if broken through, could bring the 4369 in prospect. However, it’s not safe to say that the index has reached its bottom from the technical point of view as the RSI indicator still have some room to move before its floor level. Source: IG S&P 500 Daily Chart Source: IG S&P 500 Hourly Chart Nasdaq: Drop nearly 20% from its peak Nasdaq has dropped back to its lowest level since June 2021 and now sits at nearly 20% lower from its peak. If looking back on the past two-year journey, most corrections were no more than 15% lower. The only greater correction than the current one was in February and March 2020, when Covid initially shocked the world, Nasdaq was down by 32%. Overall, the index is following the downturn tunnel formed since this year and well below all the major MAs. Currently supported by the lowest from last June with the next major support at around 12903. The closest pressure line can be found at 13851. Above that will be 14531, which is a combined pressure level from the 20-days moving average and the floor level of last July and October. Looking at the weekly chart, the support from 100 MA is still valid. Weekly RSI is moving towards its lowest level since March 2020, meaning a near-term rebound could be on the cards. However, it might be too optimistic to expect a strong bounce as the trendline for RSI suggests a very tight space for the reading to move higher for the near-term. Source: IG Nasdaq Daily Chart Source: IG Nasdaq Weekly Chart Take your position on over 13,000 local and international shares via CFDs or share trading – and trade it all seamlessly from the one account. Learn more about share CFDs or shares trading with us, or open an account to get started today. Hebe Chen | Market Analyst, Australia 25 February 2022

Please see the expected dividend adjustment figures for a number of our major indices for the week commencing 28th February 2022. These are projected dividends and likely to change. IG cannot be held responsible for any changes made. Dividends highlighted in red include a special dividend, therefore some or all of the amount will not be adjusted. Amount in brackets is the expected adjustment after special dividends excluded (where shown on major indices). Dividend adjustments due to be posted on a bank holiday will usually be posted on the previous working day. If you have any queries or questions on this please let us know in the comments section below. For further information regarding dividend adjustments, and how they affect your positions, please take a look at the video. NB: All dividend adjustments are forecasts and therefore speculative.A dividend adjustment is a cash neutral adjustment on your account. Index Bloomberg Code Effective Date Summary Dividend Amount SX5E KNEBV FH 2/03/2022 Special Div 0.35 SPX CTRA US 4/03/2022 Special Div 0.41 How do dividend adjustments work?