Global stocks on track for sixth straight month of gains
Solid corporate earnings and central bank largesse support equities, while dollar holds near one-month low
30 July 2021 - 11:19
bySimon Jessop and Andrew Galbraith
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London/Shanghai — Global shares tracked Asia lower on Friday but remain on course for their sixth straight month of gains as solid corporate earnings and central bank largesse keep sentiment intact, while the dollar held near a one-month low.
MSCI's World index was down 0.3% in early European trading, leaving it broadly flat on the week, but up 1% for the month, just shy of a record high.
Markets remain in a tussle, though, as a Chinese crackdown on its technology sector and surging cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus in Asia and elsewhere range against still-Dovish monetary policy and punchy earnings from a range of companies.
In Europe, UniCredit, BNP Paribas and Eni all saw profits rise on Friday, though underwhelming numbers overnight from Amazon, as some developed market economies begin to reopen after lockdown, proved it wasn't all one-way traffic.
“We have a bit of day-to-day volatility, but the overall market is quite strong,” said Hans Stoter, global head of core investments at AXA Investment Managers.
“It's largely still a function of limited alternatives available, with a still attractive pick up in return vs the more risk-free alternatives.”
Across Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 was down 0.8%, tracking overnight weakness in Asia where the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index was down 1.1%.
US stock futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street, down 0.8% to 1.3%, after robust earnings and solid second-quarter US growth numbers had helped blue-chips in the world's biggest economy hit a record high.
The US economy grew past pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter, helped by rising vaccinations and government aid, though the expansion fell short of expectations and rising Covid-19 infections are clouding the outlook for the current quarter.
After rising Thursday on the economic data, US Treasury yields pulled back, particularly towards the long end of the yield curve.
Benchmark 10-year notes last yielded 1.2439%, down from 1.269% late on Thursday, and the 30-year yield stood at 1.8993%, down from 1.916% on Thursday.
The spread between the US 10-year and 2-year yield narrowed to 104.6 basis points.
“We think bond yields now discount an unduly pessimistic view of the medium- to long-term outlook... The prospects for a robust recovery — and higher bond yields — are arguably much better,” analysts at Capital Economics said in a client note.
But following Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's statement earlier this week that rate increases are “a ways away” and the job market still had “some ground to cover”, the dollar wallowed near one-month lows on Friday and was set for its worst week since May.
The dollar index was last flat at 91.871, with the euro up 0.05% at $1.1892. The greenback was 0.1% higher against the yen at 109.52.
In commodities markets, oil prices fell back after global benchmark Brent on Thursday topped $76 a barrel on tight US supplies.
Brent was down 0.62% at $75.58/ barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude traded down 0.56% at $73.21. Brent crude is still up nearly 2% for the week.
Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,828.8 an ounce, on course for its best week in more than two months on the prospect of delayed Fed tapering.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Global stocks on track for sixth straight month of gains
Solid corporate earnings and central bank largesse support equities, while dollar holds near one-month low
London/Shanghai — Global shares tracked Asia lower on Friday but remain on course for their sixth straight month of gains as solid corporate earnings and central bank largesse keep sentiment intact, while the dollar held near a one-month low.
MSCI's World index was down 0.3% in early European trading, leaving it broadly flat on the week, but up 1% for the month, just shy of a record high.
Markets remain in a tussle, though, as a Chinese crackdown on its technology sector and surging cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus in Asia and elsewhere range against still-Dovish monetary policy and punchy earnings from a range of companies.
In Europe, UniCredit, BNP Paribas and Eni all saw profits rise on Friday, though underwhelming numbers overnight from Amazon, as some developed market economies begin to reopen after lockdown, proved it wasn't all one-way traffic.
“We have a bit of day-to-day volatility, but the overall market is quite strong,” said Hans Stoter, global head of core investments at AXA Investment Managers.
“It's largely still a function of limited alternatives available, with a still attractive pick up in return vs the more risk-free alternatives.”
Across Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 was down 0.8%, tracking overnight weakness in Asia where the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index was down 1.1%.
US stock futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street, down 0.8% to 1.3%, after robust earnings and solid second-quarter US growth numbers had helped blue-chips in the world's biggest economy hit a record high.
The US economy grew past pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter, helped by rising vaccinations and government aid, though the expansion fell short of expectations and rising Covid-19 infections are clouding the outlook for the current quarter.
After rising Thursday on the economic data, US Treasury yields pulled back, particularly towards the long end of the yield curve.
Benchmark 10-year notes last yielded 1.2439%, down from 1.269% late on Thursday, and the 30-year yield stood at 1.8993%, down from 1.916% on Thursday.
The spread between the US 10-year and 2-year yield narrowed to 104.6 basis points.
“We think bond yields now discount an unduly pessimistic view of the medium- to long-term outlook... The prospects for a robust recovery — and higher bond yields — are arguably much better,” analysts at Capital Economics said in a client note.
But following Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's statement earlier this week that rate increases are “a ways away” and the job market still had “some ground to cover”, the dollar wallowed near one-month lows on Friday and was set for its worst week since May.
The dollar index was last flat at 91.871, with the euro up 0.05% at $1.1892. The greenback was 0.1% higher against the yen at 109.52.
In commodities markets, oil prices fell back after global benchmark Brent on Thursday topped $76 a barrel on tight US supplies.
Brent was down 0.62% at $75.58/ barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude traded down 0.56% at $73.21. Brent crude is still up nearly 2% for the week.
Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,828.8 an ounce, on course for its best week in more than two months on the prospect of delayed Fed tapering.
Reuters
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