20 October 2020
EU stocks fell slightly and periphery yields widened as the number of new Covid-19 cases grew and new restrictions were rolled out in a number of countries and regions.
Evolution of the international financial markets and evaluation of the main events and economic indicators of the previous day session. Available in English.
EU stocks fell slightly and periphery yields widened as the number of new Covid-19 cases grew and new restrictions were rolled out in a number of countries and regions.
A week-long losing streak in global stock markets ceased on Friday as better than expected earnings results outweighed a worsening of coronavirus cases in the US and Europe. In Europe, the Eurostoxx50 ended the session 1.7% higher despite new coronavirus retrictions in some cities, while the S&P 500 edged up very slightly.
Investors' mood worsened yesterday amid increasing COVID-19 cases around the globe and worse-than-expected employment data in the US. In particular, initial jobless claims increased last week by 898k (+53k compared with the previous week), the highest level since August.
In yesterday's session, investors traded cautiously amid mixed corporate earnings releases in the US and economic data releases broadly in line with consensus expectations.
In yesterday's session, the pause in a vaccine trial after a patient fell ill weighed on sentiment. Stock indices declined across the globe (in the US, Q3 earnings season started disappointing investors) and yields on sovereign bonds edged slightly down. In FX markets, the US dollar strengthened against advanced and emerging economies' currencies.
In the first session of the week, investors' mood improved despite an apparent deadlock in negotiations for a new fiscal stimulus package in the US. Stock indices rose in most trading floors and gains were particularly high in the US, where the surge in tech companies pushed the Nasdaq 100 to its biggest advance since April.
Volatility declined and markets favored risk assets in a light economic calendar day. Stocks rose across advanced and emerging economies as investors focused on the prospects of a new fiscal package in the U.S. and the release of the accounts of the ECB's September meeting.
Investors searched for direction in yesterday's session. Asian stocks advanced, European indices were mixed, and U.S. equities jumped as markets regained optimism that a partial deal on more fiscal stimulus could still happen.
Markets were mixed in yesterday's session. Stocks in Asia, Europe and emerging economies recovered some of the lost ground in previous days.
Investor traded in a risk-on mood at the start of the week, leading to broad-based gains in stock markets. Gains were stronger in the U.S., further supported by higher hopes over a new fiscal package to stimulate the economy and amid better-than-expected sentiment indicators (the ISM nonmanufacturing rose to 57.8 points in September).
Investors traded on a cautious note in the last session of the week. Amid lower risk appetite, volatility rose, stocks declined across the board (particularly so in the U.S.), safe-haven currencies (such as the JPY and the USD) strengthened and commodity prices fell (the barrel of Brent dipped below $40).