London/New York, Aug 20 (V7N) – Markets moved cautiously on Monday after President Donald Trump assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of U.S. support for his country’s security in any potential peace deal. European stock indices saw mild gains, though defense shares notably declined amid hopes for lowered military tensions. The euro stabilized while crude oil prices fell and gold gained slight upward momentum.
 
The U.S. dollar edged higher, with the dollar index rising around 0.3%—investors favored it as a safe-haven amidst lingering geopolitical risks. The yen and pound steadied, while cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether dipped.
 
Markets face heightened attention on the upcoming Federal Reserve symposium at Jackson Hole, where Chair Jerome Powell is expected to outline the outlook for interest rates. Against a backdrop of rising Treasury yields and resilient equities, forecasts suggest an over 80% chance of a rate cut next month.
 
Amid the subdued data calendar and summer-thinned activity, investors balance cautious sentiment with hopes of geopolitical progress.
 
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