US stocks edge higher - 24.4.2018

Dow logs fourth straight loss

US equities ended marginally higher Monday while Dow and Nasdaq slipped. The S&P 500 gained 0.01% to 2670.29, with six of its 11 main sectors finishing higher. The Dow Jones industrial slipped less than 0.1% to 24448.69. The Nasdaq composite index fell 0.3% to 7128.60. The dollar strengthened to three month high: live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, rose 0.6% to 89.895. Stock indices futures indicate mixed openings today.

Dollar added to last weeks gains as bond yields continued rising on rising inflation expectations. The 10-year Treasury note yield breached above 2.995% at one point. Many fund managers have forecast a move above 3% will prompt a stock market recession. Expectations of higher interest rates were reflected in fed fund futures prices data last Friday showing traders priced a 38% chance of four hikes this year compared with a 24.5% chance on April 11. Economic news were mixed: the Chicago Fed national activity index for March declined to 0.10 from 0.98 in February while preliminary readings of Markit’s manufacturing and services purchasing managers’ indexes for April rose: to 56.5 in April from 55.6 for Manufacturing PMI, and to 54.4 in from 54.0 in March for Services PMI.

CAC 40 leads European indices recovery

European stocks recovered Monday. The euro and British Pound extended losses against the dollar. The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.4%, led by financial shares. The DAX 30 gained 0.3%, France’s CAC 40 outperformed ending up 0.5% and UK’s FTSE 100 advanced 0.4% to 7398.87. Indices opened mixed today.

Financial stocks advanced on the back of rising bond yields while data showed services sector and manufacturing activities expansion continued in euro-zone: Markit’s flash services April reading was at 55.0, and the flash manufacturing PMI at 56.0. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. Preliminary manufacturing and services PMI reports from Germany and France largely beat expectations.

FR40

Chinese stocks lead Asian indices rebound

Asian stock indices are higher today. Nikkei rose 0.9% to 22278 led by financial shares with continued yen slide against the dollar buoying exporter shares. Chinese stocks are leading the gains: the Shanghai Composite Index is up 2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 1% higher. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index is up 0.6% with Australian dollar extending slide against the US dollar as Australia’s Q1 inflation came in lower than expected.

Brent slips

Brent futures prices are edging lower today. Prices ended higher yesterday on rising Middle East after reports a Saudi led air strike killed the head of the Houthi rebels in Yemen. June Brent crude settled 0.9% higher at $74.71 barrel on Monday.