Investors continued to trade in a mixed mood in yesterday's session. Commodity prices declined across the board while the USD strengthened. Stocks were mixed, advancing in Asia and Europe but declining moderately in the U.S.
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Yesterday, markets traded more cautiously as investors eyed the Easter holidays. Stock markets were mixed, declining moderately in most regions while U.S. benchmarks closed slightly higher on the back of tech shares.
In yesterday's session, US investors traded with optimism as more people are receiving vaccines and economic data releases came out better than expected. European markets were closed due to the Easter holiday.
In yesterday's session investors traded with a positive mood as the IMF revised upwards its macroeconomic projections for most advanced and emerging economies. The more vigorous recovery is driven by the fiscal stimulus packages and the vaccination campaign gathering pace in the next quarters.
Yesterday, investors traded in a low volatility environment as the Fed's last meeting minutes reiterated its intention to keep the monetary policy stance unchanged for some time. Nevertheless, as it was anticipated in the dot plot, several members argued that they would favor raising rates earlier than the FOMC’s median view.
Investors continued to trade in a low volatility environment as comments from policy makers reiterated their intention to support economic growth. In particular, Janet Yellen, US Treasury Secretary, urged the main economies to adopt an expansionary fiscal stance to secure a robust recovery.
Markets closed the week with a mixed session on Friday. A jump in U.S. producer price inflation (+4.2% yoy in March after +2.8% in February) led to a steepening of global sovereign yield curves and a mixed performance in most stock markets (with the exception of the U.S., where equities posted a third-straight weekly rally).
Markets started the week in a cautious mood as investors pondered over pandemic dynamics and the economic outlook. Stock markets declined moderately across most advanced and emerging economies while commodities were mixed and FX markets were little changed.
Markets shrugged off a jump in U.S. inflation and the halt in Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and investors continued to favor risk assets in yesterday's session. Stocks and commodity prices advanced while the USD weakened moderately against the major currencies.
Investors traded in a mixed mood as the U.S. earnings season kicked off. Global stocks were mixed, the USD weakened moderately and sovereign yields nudged up across the U.S. and Europe.
Global stock markets advanced across the board in yesterday's session. U.S. stocks reached new record highs on the back of robust retail sales data (+9.8% mom in March), but gains were more modest elsewhere.
Investors closed the week with an optimistic tone. Positive corporate earnings releases and Q1 activity data in China (GDP rose by 0.6% qoq and 18.3% yoy, due to base effects) contributed to the improvement in sentiment.
Investors started the week with a cautious mood as they wait for the release of this week's Q1 corporate results and the ECB monetary policy meeting.
In yesterday's session financial markets experienced risk aversion flows. Despite the positive results presented by some companies, the increase in COVID cases around the globe led investors to move from equities tied to the economic cycle to safer assets such as sovereign bonds, gold and safe haven currencies.
Yesterday, investors traded with cautious optimism after two days of consecutive declines in stock markets. The announcement that the German constitutional court will not initially block the NGEU package (€750bn) contributed to investors' optimism. Opposition argued that the EU was exceeding its powers by issuing such large amount of debt.
Investors ended the week in a mixed mood as they weighed increasing coronavirus cases, vaccination progress and plans for higher taxes. On Friday, global stocks were mixed, the USD weakened, and sovereign yields nudged up. Italy's peripheral spread widened modestly ahead of S&P's rating review (unchanged at BBB and a 'stable' outlook).
Investors traded in a more cautious way in yesterday's session. U.S. and euro area sovereign yields nudged up on the back of a surge in U.S. consumer confidence (the Conference Board's index rose to 121.7 points in April, its highest level since February 2020), while global stock markets were mixed.
Markets ended yesterday's session with no major movements. Risk assets gained, with commodity prices and most stock markets advancing moderately, but U.S. equities nudged down as investors eyed Biden's presentation of the $1.8trn American Families Plan – to be financed with higher taxes on the wealthy.
Markets went through a mixed session as investors digested solid U.S. activity figures. U.S. GDP growth accelerated to +1.6% qoq in Q1 2021 (Q4 2020: +1.1%) on the back of stronger private consumption (+2.6% qoq), which found support on easing restrictions and fiscal stimulus. U.S. stocks advanced and yields on Treasuries nudged up.
Volatility edged up amid a bunch of economic releases on Friday. In the euro area, GDP contracted moderately in Q1 (-0.6% qoq) while inflation rose to 1.6% in April (+0.3pp) due to base effects in energy prices. U.S. consumer spending rose +4.2% mom in March as consumers received stimulus checks, and PCE core inflation advanced to 1.8% yoy.