Despite continued high inflation figures, the major stock indexes rose in October. The companies' reports for the third quarter have been in focus, generally they have been satisfactory. On the Swedish side, the industrial companies showed continued strong order intake, higher costs with some margin pressure as a result, and positive currency effects due to a weak SEK.

The negative market sentiment from the second half of August continued during September. The Stockholm SAX index fell close to 7.5% and the Nasdaq exchange in the US by just over 10%, which means that they have both lost just over 30% year to date.

The positive sentiment in July and halfway into August ended in the middle of the month as markets turned negative. Above all, there were several indications from the world's central banks that further interest rate increases are to be expected.