Evolution of the international financial markets and evaluation of the main events and economic indicators of the previous day session. Available in English.
European stocks and bond yields fell yesterday as Italy, France, Germany and Spain suspend vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine over worries about the jabs' side-effects. Meanwhile, Italy has taken more stringent lockdown measures. The Eurostoxx50 was down by 0.1%.
The U.S. bond sell-off continued last Friday after President Joe Biden said every U.S. adult would be eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination by May 1st and set July 4th Independence Day as a new target for a return to normality.
Markets traded in a risk-on mood as investors signaled greater optimism about the economic recovery and lower concerns over inflation risks in yesterday's session. Volatility declined, stocks rose across advanced and emerging economies and tech-equities resumed their rally. Commodity prices also gained amid greater risk appetite.
Stocks rose across the board as Biden's $1.9tn fiscal package won final approval in the U.S. Congress and CPI data calmed inflation worries. In particular, U.S. CPI inflation rose to 1.7% yoy in February but core inflation nudged down to 1.3% (see our take and why we expect inflation to be under the spotlight in the coming months here).
Investors traded in a positive mood as the OECD signaled a brighter economic outlook. According to its updated forecasts, the world economy is set to grow by 5.6% and 4.0% in 2021 and 2022. The OECD estimates that spillovers from the U.S. fiscal stimulus will add more than 1pp to global growth.
Optimism about the economic recovery favored a rotation into cyclical equities as investors digested the U.S. Senate's approval of Biden's $1.9tn fiscal package. European stocks rose across the board while tech-related stocks sold off and weighed on the U.S.' Nasdaq and S&P 500 benchmarks.
Investors traded in a mixed mood in the last session of the week. While European and emerging-market equities declined across the board, U.S. stocks bounced back from losses on the back of stronger-than-expected labor market data (nonfarm payrolls + 379k in February) and their turnaround reversed last week’s losses in the S&P 500.
In yesterday's session, investors extended the sell-off of equity and most stock indices across advanced economies registered losses. Jerome Powell reiterated in a speech that the Fed is committed with its objectives and that it will keep easy credit conditions even when economic conditions improve.
Investors traded with a cautious mood in yesterday's session amid improving economic sentiment indicators. In particular, services PMIs improved in the euro area but remain in contraction territory (below 50).
In yesterday's session investors traded cautiously. Stock indices declined in the US, particularly so the tech-heavy Nasdaq, and were mixed in the euro area.
In the first session of the week, investors traded with a positive and risk-on mood. The release of improving manufacturing PMI data in most countries (with the exception of China) and expectations that the vaccination campaign will be effective contributed to the optimism in financial markets.