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.
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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.
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 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 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.
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 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.
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).
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.
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.
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%.
During yesterday's meeting, the Federal Reserve sharply upgraded its forecasts for growth in the U.S. and signalled that interest rates would remain unchanged until at least 2024 and that it would continue to buy bonds at a pace of $120 billion per month until it made "substantial further progress" towards its goals.
European equities performed well on Thursday after the Federal Reserve raised its growth forecast for the US, and the Eurostoxx50 rose 0.5%. Banks and automakers led the gains, as they are favored by rising market interest rates.
In the last session of the week, investors traded cautiously as they continued to weigh accelerating economic growth and inflation expectations for the US. In this context, the S&P 500 ticked down, the Nasdaq rose and euro area indices declined following previous' day losses in the US.
In yesterday's session, volatility declined, US stock indices rose led by gains in the tech sector and euro area equities were mixed.
In yesterday's session investors traded with a less optimistic tone amid rising global COVID-19 cases and new lockdown measures in Germany. Additionally, Fed President Jerome Powell played down concerns of an overheating US economy as he said that the increase in inflation "will be neither particularly large nor persistent".
Investors traded with a positive tone in yesterday's session as March PMI data surprised on the upside in most regions, particularly in the euro area (Composite Index 52.5 vs 48.8 in February). The advance was more robust in the manufacturing sector, although the services index also increased.
In yesterday's session, stock volatility declined and investors traded with cautious optimism. Federal Reserve officials reiterated their intention to keep monetary policy unchanged until the economic recovery has been fully completed. Then, the exit of the stimulus would be very gradual and with great transparency.
Markets ended the week with a risk-on session on Friday. Stocks rose across advanced and emerging markets, sovereign yield curves steepened and commodity prices advanced, while in FX markets the USD was roughly flat against major currencies.
Markets were mixed in the first session of the week. Stocks advanced in Asia and Europe but retreated in the U.S, where financials weighed on the main benchmarks as investors assessed potential losses from their exposure to Archegos Capital Management, a hedge fund that had failed to meet margin calls.