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The electric car market continues to grow strongly. At least in Europe. The share of pure electric cars in new registrations is approaching 15 percent, and together with hybrid cars, it has already exceeded 50 percent this September. The Chinese car companies have decided to conquer the world and there are reports of battery-powered vehicles becoming cheaper from the United States. End consumers can rejoice, as the long-awaited drop in the price of electric cars has probably begun, which could fundamentally change the individual transport market.

The price of oil futures climbed higher at the end of the week due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. A barrel of Brent oil touched the ninety-dollar mark, and the American WTI oil then crossed the mark of $85 per barrel.*

Stock markets, not only in the US, are going through a difficult period. The main index of the New York Stock Exchange, the S&P 500, has written off over three per cent in the past week, and other Wall Street indices have also entered negative territory. Investors are not persuaded to make major purchases even by the solid results of companies for the third quarter. They are counteracted by statements by US central bank officials, who suggest that the likelihood of further interest rate rises is growing.

Although inflation in the United States has fallen significantly, it still remains above the US central bank's target. Its governor, Jerome Powell, assured almost two months ago that the Fed is ready to raise interest rates if necessary, although it has paused further tightening of monetary policy for now. But now there was a surprise when September inflation did not fall and is higher than both the Fed and the markets expected.
What might this mean for future developments?

The labor market in the United States remains tight and unemployment remains at record lows. This could prompt the Federal Reserve to consider raising interest rates further, even though it decided to keep them at their current level at its last monetary policy meeting. If there is another "hike", this would not be good news for stock markets. Particularly if US economic developments necessitate a continuation of interest rate hikes over the next year.