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).
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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.
In a session in which the focus was expected to be the FOMC meeting and the Q1 2020 US GDP release, investors shifted their attention to the expectations of an effective COVID-19 treatment.
Investor sentiment improved in the last session of the week despite the release of April's U.S. employment report, which showed the largest job's loss since the Great Depression.
Investors traded cautiously in the last session of the week amid rising concerns between the Chinese-US relations and mounting uncertainty on the economic recovery after the COVID-19.
Investors started the week with mixed sentiment in Europe and optimism in the U.S., driven, respectively, by weaker-than-expected economic data releases on one side and the perception that activity is recovering on the other.
Investor sentiment ended the week on the up amid positive reports over a potential antiviral drug to treat COVID-19. As risk appetite rose, stocks increased across Europe and the U.S., the USD weakened and commodity prices advanced (in oil markets, the barrel of Brent closed moderately above $43).
In yesterday's session investors traded cautiously as they digested political developments. On the one hand, tensions between the US and China rose as the White House gave China 72 hours to close its consulate in Houston amid accusations of spying. China has said it intends to retaliate.
The spread of new COVID-19 cases weakened investor's sentiment in the last session of August. Stock indices declined in most advanced and emerging economies except for the heavy technology-weighted Nasdaq index, in the US, and the Japanese Nikkei.
Investors traded on a cautious note in the first session of the week. U.S. stocks advanced across the board (including the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which had been lagging in the last sessions) while European indices were mixed. In fixed-income markets, yields on U.S. and euro area core sovereign bonds were roughly unchanged.
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.
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.
Markets ended the month in a mixed session, as European stocks fell and the S&P 500 recovered from the previous day's losses. Safe haven bond yields rose and the dollar appreciated against the euro.
Volatility declined and markets favored risk assets in a light economic calendar day. Stocks rose across advanced and emerging economies as investors focused on the prospects of a new fiscal package in the U.S. and the release of the accounts of the ECB's September meeting.
In yesterday's session, the pause in a vaccine trial after a patient fell ill weighed on sentiment. Stock indices declined across the globe (in the US, Q3 earnings season started disappointing investors) and yields on sovereign bonds edged slightly down. In FX markets, the US dollar strengthened against advanced and emerging economies' currencies.
In yesterday's session, investor sentiment continued to improve as US citizens started casting their vote for the Presidential elections. The Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, was leading most national polls but the race for the White House was too close to call as of this morning.
In yesterday's session, investors traded with a positive tone as the Federal Reserve kept its monetary policy unchanged and vote counting continued in the US. The Democrat candidate, Joe Biden, has taken the lead and potentially winning one more state would be sufficient for him to become the US President.
Markets ended last week on a high note on Friday as it became apparent that the US elections were nearing a result. The S&P 500 gained 7.3% over the week and US sovereign yields rose sharply. The election result was finally called on Saturday, in favor of Joe Biden, but Donald Trump announced that he would contest the results.
European sovereign yields edged lower in yesterday's trading session following a speech by ECB chief Christine Lagarde in which she signalled further monetary easing. In her speech, Lagarde emphasised the importance of the duration, and not only the size, of monetary accomodation, and identified PEPP and TLTROs as the main crisis tools.
Economic sentiment data and new advances in a vaccine treatment for COVID-19 were the main drivers of a mixed session in financial markets. On the one hand, the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc said that their vaccine prevented 70% of the participants from falling ill. This effectiveness rises to 90% with an alternative treatment.