Markets advance on positive reports - 8.2.2017

Nasdaq hits a record high

US stocks ended marginally higher on Tuesday as gains, supported by positive earnings reports, were limited by concerns over growing trade deficit. The dollar strengthened further after Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Harker’s comment Monday that a March interest rate hike is “on the table.” 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, closed 0.5% higher at 100.401. Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.2% to 20090.29 led by Apple, Boeing and IBM shares, up 0.95%, 1.54% and 1.48% respectively. The S&P 500 added less than 0.1% settling at 2293.08 with gains in advancing sectors led by consumer staples offsetting losses in decliners led energy stocks, down 1.4%. The Nasdaq index closed at record high of 5674.22, gaining 0.2%.

With more than half of the S&P 500 having reported results, fourth quarter earnings are on track to have risen 8.2%. Market indexes have been range-bound recently as the rally since presidential election has paused with investors waiting for more legislation and administration steps supporting expansionary policy plans proclaimed by President Trump such as cutting taxes, deregulation and infrastructure spending programs. Meanwhile data indicated the US trade deficit hit a four-year high of $502.3 billion, and job openings declined marginally while an increase was expected. Today at 13:00 CET Mortgage applications will be released by the Mortgage Bankers’ Association in US.

French bank stocks limit gains in European equities

European stocks advanced on Tuesday on positive corporate reports while uncertainty over French elections added to cautious mood. The euro extended losses against the dollar hurt by ECB president Mario Draghi’s Monday comment it was too early to withdraw monetary stimulus as recent uptick in inflation was mostly due to higher oil prices and not improvement in euro-zone economy. The British Pound, on the other hand, strengthened against the dollar. The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.3%. Germany’s DAX 30 gained 0.34% to 11549.44. France’s CAC 40 lost 0.5% and UK’s FTSE 100 index added 0.2% to 7186.22.

French bank stocks fell as lower than expected earnings from BNP Paribas weighed on subdued investor confidence over political uncertainty. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the anti-immigration National Front, has promised to pull France out of the euro-zone while support for the French conservative presidential nominee Francois Fillon has tumbled as he apologized to the country for having employed his wife and children as parliamentary aides but rejected accusations that the jobs were phony amid calls for him to abandon his bid. Energy stocks fell as oil prices continued to decline. In economic news, German industrial production fell in December and UK retail sales declined 0.6% on the year in the four-week period ending January 28.

Asian markets recover

Asian stocks are up today with investors cautious in light of rising political uncertainty in Europe. Nikkei ended 0.5% higher at 19007.60 supported by positive earnings reports as the yen uptrend against the dollar stalled. As investors await for the start of two-day meeting of the US and Japanese leaders this Friday, data showed Japan’s current account surplus hit 20.6 trillion yen ($183.63 billion) in 2016, its second-biggest surplus on record on cheaper oil, rising foreign tourists arrivals and foreign income from overseas investments. Chinese stocks are higher, shrugging off the news China's foreign exchange reserves unexpectedly fell below the closely watched $3 trillion level in January for the first time in nearly six years. The Shanghai Composite Index is up 0.4% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.6% higher. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index is up 0.54% with the Australian dollar edging lower against the dollar. Today at 21:00 CET Reserve Bank of New Zealand interest rate decision will be released, no change in policy is expected.

HK 50

Oil prices inch higher

Oil futures prices are edging higher today rebounding from extended losses the previous day. The American Petroleum Institute reported yesterday US crude stocks rose by 14.2 million barrels last week to 503.6 million barrels with gasoline stocks increasing by 2.9 million barrels instead of an expected 1.1-million barrel gain. April Brent crude closed 1.2% lower at $55.05 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures exchange on Tuesday. Today at 16:30 CET the Energy Information Administration will release US Crude Oil Inventories.