Global equities rise as trade war concerns ease - 13.9.2019

Dow notched seventh straight win

US stock indexes advance continued on Thursday as President Trump said he would be open to a smaller-scale, interim trade deal. The S&P 500 gained 0.3% to 3009.57. The Dow Jones industrial average added 0.2% to 27182.45. Nasdaq composite index rose 0.3% to 8194.47. The dollar weakened despite data showing core inflation rose 0.3%, above forecasts of a 0.2% gain, while the number of Americans applying for new unemployment benefits fell by 15,000 to 204,000 last week: the live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, fell 0.3% to 98.35 and is lower currently. Stock index futures point to higher openings today.

CAC 40 paces European indexes gains

European stocks extended gains on Thursday after the European Central Bank (ECB) resumed massive bond-buying. Both EUR/USD and GBP/USD resumed climbing yesterday with both pairs moving higher currently . The Stoxx Europe 600 index ended 0.2% higher as the ECB cut its deposit rate from -0.4% to -0.5%, and announced it would restart open-ended purchasing of long-term government bonds at a pace of €20 billion a month. Germany’s DAX 30 advanced 0.41% to 12410.25. France’s CAC 40 rose 0.44% while UK’s FTSE 100 added 0.1% to 7349.67 as British government published its plans for a no-deal Brexit on Wednesday night.

Nikkei leads Asian indexes gains

Asian stock indices are in green today in thin trading with markets in mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea closed for holidays. Nikkei extended gains 1.1% to 21988.29 as yen renewed its slide against the dollar. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.8% higher after reports China called on state firms to boost investment in crisis-hit Hong Kong. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index gained another 0.5% despite continuing Australian dollar climb against the greenback.

Brent down

Brent futures prices are edging lower today. Prices advanced yesterday as OPEC and major producers reiterated their commitment to current output cuts, but didn’t announce bigger production cuts as some had expected in the wake of easing tensions between the US and Iran: November Brent crude lost 0.7% to $60.38 a barrel on Thursday.