Friday’s session registered losses in nearly all major stock markets as investors reassessed elevated valuations in the technology sector. On the macro side, the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell to a three-and-a-half year low, as worries about the economic consequences of the longest government shutdown ever increased.
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On Monday, volatility continued to dominate financial markets. While the session started with losses in stock indices and sharp declines in sovereign yields, sentiment improved throughout the day following the communication by some ECB officials. Equities closed higher and yields on sovereign bonds rose in the US and were mixed in the euro area.
The week began with a risk-off session as investors awaited several US tech mega-cap earnings reports amid concerns about high valuations in the sector. Stocks sold off globally, while sovereign yields edged lower and the dollar strengthened, as President Trump's decision to exempt a large list of agricultural products from reciprocal tariffs barely impacted the market.
The sour mood in equity markets extended for another session amid continued worries about high valuations in the tech sector. Global stock indices fell, with losses led by euro area equities, and accumulated losses of over 3% in a week. The VIX volatility index is up 42% week-over-week and trading above 24 points. Amid risk-averse sentiment, the dollar rose.
Global stock markets were mixed as investors gauge the implications of the latest changes in the Trump administration, especially after the declarations of the new White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow that signaled support for a strong dollar and took a tough line on China.
Investors continued to trade with caution in anticipation of further monetary tightening by the Fed, despite ISM service sector survey in August was consistent with very solid growth in Q3. In the euro zone, the surveys anticipate the ECB will hike interest rates by, at least, 50 bp on Thursday.
Global financial markets were mixed in the last session of the week as investors continue to navigate through interest rate cut expectations and new economic data. US University of Michigan consumer sentiment index improved to 78.8, the highest reading since July 2021, boosting the stock market and bringing the S&P 500 to a new record high.
Investors started the week trading with appetite for risk, taking position ahead of the CPI inflation report for August in the US, to be released today. According to the Consensus, CPI inflation is expected to have eased to 8.1% y/y (from 8.5%), which, if confirmed, could reduce some pressure on the Fed for continuing hiking policy rates aggressively.
Financial markets extended their slide as the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, while political assurances to cushion its impact failed to raise investors' sentiment (Angela Merkel pledged to do "whatever is necessary" to bolster the economy while the Trump administration promised a "major" stimulus).
Financial markets started the week with a subdued risk appetite. Sovereign bond yields rose across the board in developed markets. The sold off started in Japan, where it seems increasingly likely that the BoJ could rise rates in December. In both Europe and the US, November ISM and PMI data showed protracted weakness in manufacturing.
Risk aversion returned to the fore on Tuesday after CPI inflation surprised to the upside in the US, fueling a new upward revision in investors’ expectations about the pace of monetary policy tightening by the Federal Reserve.
In yesterday’s session, investors took a mildly positive view of December’s US CPI report, which confirmed the disinflationary momentum in the US economy, even though the headline figure was higher than expected. Government bond yields fell on the news and the market's discounted probability of a Fed rate cut in March rose.
Investors traded cautiously as they positioned themselves ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting next week. US weekly unemployment benefit claims fell to a three-year low, casting some doubts over the Fed's willingess to lower rates. In this context, US treasury yields rose, equities were mostly flat, and the dollar edged higher against most peers.
In yesterday’s session, the US CPI data for December centered the stage and confirmed the downward trend kicked off last summer. In particular, the headline index fell by 0.1% m/m and the core measure rose by 0.3%. On year-on-year terms, inflation eased to 6.5% (headline) and 5.7% (core), both in line with consensus expectations.
Investors ended the week trading with a pessimistic tone amid concerns on the economic outlook and tightening monetary policy. On a positive note, the US consumers' inflation expectations survey (University of Michigan) showed the lowest rate since last September, easing concerns that the Fed could hike rates this week by 100bp.
In the last session of the week, investors focused their attention on the ECB and Fed officials’ speeches, which tried to push back against the expectation for early interest rate cuts.
In the last session of the week, investors traded cautiously in Europe amid dramatic economic sentiment data in Germany (Ifo sentiment fell to the lowest recorded level) and the absence of a clear EU-wide proposal to fund the recovery in Thursday’s European Council meeting.
Monday's stock market rally went into reverse in yesterday's session, as investors weighed the prospects for the coronavirus pandemic and the possibility of further fiscal stimulus in the U.S.
European stocks edged down on Friday, while U.S. stocks notched gains despite posting a slight loss on the week as investors faced the reality of a second coronavirus wave in Europe and the uncertainty around further stimulus in the U.S.
Comments by central bankers centered the stage at the start of the week in a session with no relevant economic data releases. In the euro area Christine Lagarde reiterated that a rate hike in 2022 is "very unlikely" even if the current inflation spike might be higher and longer than initially expected.