- The year started off on a shaky foundation with the top Iranian commander being killed in a US-ordered airstrike. This increased tensions between the nations following a spate of previous attacks triggered some volatility in the oil price.
- On the 15th January President Trump signed off on phase one of a trade deal which marked a positive sign that the damaging trade war battle between the two largest economies is slowly coming to an end.
- There has been slight hiccups along the way for President Trump but despite the news the US markets continues to remain stable.
- On the 31st January at 11pm UK time Britain formally withdraws from the European Union. This is just the beginning of the transition period and details still need to be finalised on the future relationship that the UK will have with its European neighbours.
- The death toll of the Coronavirus has risen to 300, with over 17 000 cases confirmed. Scientists from all across the world are struggling to come up with a solution to end the spread of the virus. This virus emerged from the Chinese city Wuhan and at present 56 million Chinese are under quarantine.
- The implication of the Coronavirus was a massive exodus and sell off in Chinese stocks which sent shock waves through the global markets.