Evolution of the international financial markets and evaluation of the main events and economic indicators of the previous day session. Available in English.
Wednesday saw another mixed session in financial markets. Eurozone sovereign bond yields fell, with curves flattening slightly, as August industrial production data in the eurozone surprised to the upside (though still contracted). The French spread also narrowed and sat below the Italian one, as Lecornu’s new government cemented its chances of survival.
Tueday saw a mixed session across markets. Fed Chair Powell acknowledged the resilience of the US economy but noted the labor market remains subdued, with limited hiring and firing activity, prompting a decline in short-term Treasury yields. Separately, the NFIB survey showed business confidence softened in September and many owners planned price increases.
Investor sentiment improved at the start of the week as President Trump softened Friday’s rhetoric on China and both sides signaled openness to resuming trade talks. Risk appetite also benefited from the de-escalation in the Middle East. Global equity indices advanced, led by the technology sector, while volatility declined sharply.
Investor risk appetite soured and global risk assets fell after President Trump threatened a “massive” tariff hike on Chinese exports, citing “hostile” export controls over rare earths. Equity indices declined across the Atlantic, with the tech-focused Nasdaq among the worst performers. Trump’s threats were watered down over the weekend.
Markets were mixed in yesterday's session as uncertainty about the situation in France and the US government shutdown continued to dampen investors' sentiment. Sovereign yields edged higher on both sides of the Atlantic and the euro weakened to $1.15 against the dollar. Euro area stocks were mixed and US stocks fell as the tech-fueled rally took a pause.
Sentiment recovered in the euro area after a few sessions of cautious trading following the resignation of France’s Prime Minister. Sovereign yields fell and peripheral risk premia narrowed slightly, although France’s remains elevated and above Italy’s. The region’s main equity indices advanced.
Without relevant macro data to trade on, no advances in negotiations to reopen the US government, nor any new developments in France, markets traded cautiously during yesterday's session. Euro area sovereign yields ended mostly flat while US Treasury yields edged lower, and stocks retreated globally. The euro weakened to 1.16 against the dollar.
Following the resignation of French premier Lecornou, French assets sold off with stocks paring losses and the yield on the 10-year sovereign benchmark rising to push the country's risk premium to 85bp, above Italy's. Contagion to the rest of the euro area was limited, with peripheral risk premia stable and stocks paring mild losses. The EURUSD held at 1.17.
Investors ended the week with a mixed session as the US government shutdown, which prevented the release of the employment report, clouded sentiment. Sovereign yields edged lower in the euro area and stocks mostly advanced, while US Treasury yields ended higher, and equities were mostly flat weighed down by the underperformance of tech stocks.
Markets were mixed in yesterday's session as the U.S. government shutdown clouded data releases. Technology equities drove the U.S.' Nasdaq to record highs, while the S&P 500 was barely changed and euro area stocks were mixed. Sovereign yields nudged down and the USD inched higher. Brent oil prices continued to fall ahead of the weekend's OPEC+ meeting.
Markets seemed to shrug off the U.S. government shutdown in yesterday's session. Global stocks rose and U.S. sovereign yields declined amid weak U.S. labor market data. Euro area sovereign yields were little changed, and the euro held steady at $1.17. Gold also steadied after having rallied in the last few days.
Stocks rose while sovereign yields and the USD were little changed and gold advanced as investors eyed a looming U.S. government shutdown (which just began this midnight). In commodity markets, the barrel of Brent declined to $67 as investors continued to brace for an OPEC+ output hike next month.