S&P 500

The S&P 500 slipped below its record peak above 2,000 overnight as the Ukraine crisis weighed on markets globally.

The FTSE 100 has moved back above the 6,800 mark for the first time this month as investors take heart from another record high for the S&P 500 yesterday.

The S&P 500 briefly crossed the 2,000 threshold on Monday after US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen signalled she will hold back on any aggressive move on interest rates.

Have markets become desensitised to geopolitical conflicts?

US markets continued to edge higher on Wednesday, despite the Federal Reserve's latest minutes suggesting an interest rate hike may come sooner than expected.

Global markets have jumped and oil has hit a 14-month low as geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine show signs of abating.

Where’s the value?

Markets across Asia and the US climbed on Thursday, following a bout of soft economic data which saw retail sales in the US stall.

FUND GROUPS

Global shares and US treasury yields fell on Thursday and Friday while gold soared as investors sought safety following a passenger jet crash in Ukraine.