Financial Markets Daily Report

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Volatility declined and stock markets advanced moderately in a session dominated by news of fresh extensions to coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and China.

Tuesday's session was mixed, as investors weighed worries of further restrictions to stem the spread of the virus in Europe against prospects of additional fiscal stimulus in the United States.

Investors traded in a negative mood on Monday amid a deterioration of the health crisis in the EU and the United States, following one of the best weeks for stock markets since November.

Financial markets closed the first week of 2021 on a strong note as both European and U.S. stock markets posted their strongest weekly gains since November.

Investors traded in a risk-on mood as markets head into the holiday period. Yesterday, sentiment was supported by news that the UK and the EU are on the verge of unveiling a trade deal (an announcement is expected today).

Investors traded cautiously in yesterday's session. European stocks rebounded from Monday's sell-off while most other benchmarks were mixed.

A new variant of the coronavirus in the U.K. triggered a global sell-off yesterday. The new variant, which is said to be up to 70% more infectious, sent stocks lower across the world.

Markets ended the week with a volatile 'quadruple witching' session (index and single stock options and futures expired simultaneously).

In yesterday's session investors continued trading with moderate optimism. Despite the evolution of the pandemic and the weekly 23k increase in initial unemployment claims in the US, hopes that the fiscal stimulus would be finally unveiled led the main US stock indices to new record highs.

The accommodative monetary policy stance confirmed in yesterday's Federal Reserve's meeting and the better-than-expected December flash PMIs in the euro area kept optimism among investors. In particular, the manufacturing indices were expected to fall but managed to increase, and the services indices rose but remained below 50.

Investor sentiment remained moderately optimistic in yesterday's session despite the evolution of the pandemic.

Investors started the week with fresh optimism as the EU and the UK are set to continue negotiating to reach a deal before the transition period ends by December 31st.