19 March 2021
European equities performed well on Thursday after the Federal Reserve raised its growth forecast for the US, and the Eurostoxx50 rose 0.5%. Banks and automakers led the gains, as they are favored by rising market interest rates.
Evolution of the international financial markets and evaluation of the main events and economic indicators of the previous day session. Available in English.
18 March 2021
During yesterday's meeting, the Federal Reserve sharply upgraded its forecasts for growth in the U.S. and signalled that interest rates would remain unchanged until at least 2024 and that it would continue to buy bonds at a pace of $120 billion per month until it made "substantial further progress" towards its goals.
17 March 2021
Investors traded in a positive mood yesterday as the European stock market rose 0.6% on the back of good earnings reports and positive soft data. In Germany, the ZEW business expectations index rose to 71.2 in March from 61.8 in February, its highest level in months. Euro area periphery sovereign yields widened slightly.
16 March 2021
European stocks and bond yields fell yesterday as Italy, France, Germany and Spain suspend vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine over worries about the jabs' side-effects. Meanwhile, Italy has taken more stringent lockdown measures. The Eurostoxx50 was down by 0.1%.
15 March 2021
The U.S. bond sell-off continued last Friday after President Joe Biden said every U.S. adult would be eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination by May 1st and set July 4th Independence Day as a new target for a return to normality.
12 March 2021
Markets traded in a risk-on mood as investors signaled greater optimism about the economic recovery and lower concerns over inflation risks in yesterday's session. Volatility declined, stocks rose across advanced and emerging economies and tech-equities resumed their rally. Commodity prices also gained amid greater risk appetite.
11 March 2021
Stocks rose across the board as Biden's $1.9tn fiscal package won final approval in the U.S. Congress and CPI data calmed inflation worries. In particular, U.S. CPI inflation rose to 1.7% yoy in February but core inflation nudged down to 1.3% (see our take and why we expect inflation to be under the spotlight in the coming months here).
10 March 2021
Investors traded in a positive mood as the OECD signaled a brighter economic outlook. According to its updated forecasts, the world economy is set to grow by 5.6% and 4.0% in 2021 and 2022. The OECD estimates that spillovers from the U.S. fiscal stimulus will add more than 1pp to global growth.
09 March 2021
Optimism about the economic recovery favored a rotation into cyclical equities as investors digested the U.S. Senate's approval of Biden's $1.9tn fiscal package. European stocks rose across the board while tech-related stocks sold off and weighed on the U.S.' Nasdaq and S&P 500 benchmarks.
08 March 2021
Investors traded in a mixed mood in the last session of the week. While European and emerging-market equities declined across the board, U.S. stocks bounced back from losses on the back of stronger-than-expected labor market data (nonfarm payrolls + 379k in February) and their turnaround reversed last week’s losses in the S&P 500.
05 March 2021
In yesterday's session, investors extended the sell-off of equity and most stock indices across advanced economies registered losses. Jerome Powell reiterated in a speech that the Fed is committed with its objectives and that it will keep easy credit conditions even when economic conditions improve.