Thursday 26th March: Markets look forward to US unemployment numbers.

content provided with permission by IC MArkets

Global Markets:

  • Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 4.51%, Shanghai Composite down 0.60%, Hang Seng down 0.98%, ASX up 2.30%
  • Commodities : Gold at $1616.60 (-1.03%), Silver at $14.49 (-2.59%), Brent Oil at $26.79 (-2.19%), WTI Oil at $23.73 (-3.10%)
  • Rates : US 10-year yield at 0.813, UK 10-year yield at 0.441, Germany 10-year yield at -0.306

News & Data:

  • (GBP) Retail Sales m/m -0.30% vs 0.20% expected
  • (USD) Durable Goods Orders m/m 1.20% vs -1.00% expected
  • (USD) Core Durable Goods Orders m/m -0.60% vs -0.40% expected
  • (EUR) German Final ifo Business Climate 86.1 vs 87.9 expected
  • (GBP) PPI Input m/m -1.20% vs -2.00% expected
  • (GBP) CPI y/y 1.70% vs 1.70% expected
  • ECB will not apply issuer limit in new crisis fighting QE
  • PBOC Acts to Stabilize Yuan After Currency Underperforms Peers

Markets Update:

Asian stock markets are mostly higher on Thursday as investors await the passage of a $2 trillion stimulus package in the U.S. to combat the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Investors are also looking ahead to a report on weekly U.S. jobless claims scheduled to be released later in the day, as it will be among the first data points to reflect the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Shares in Japan led losses among the region’s major markets, with the Nikkei 225 falling 4.5%, after three days of blockbuster gains. Mainland Chinese stocks slipped on the day, with the Shanghai composite 0.6% lower, whereas the Shenzhen composite was 1% lower. South Korea’s Kospi finished its trading day 1.1% lower. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia rose 2.3%

In currencies, the mood drove weakness in both the U.S. dollar and the riskier Aussie. The U.S. dollar index, which track the greenback against a basket of its peers, was last at 100.862 after seeing levels above 102 earlier in the week. Oil edged lower with fears of plunging demand just outweighing stimulus hopes.

Upcoming Events:

  • 09:30 AM GMT – (GBP) Retail Sales m/m
  • 12:00 PM GMT – (GBP) MPC Official Bank Rate Votes
  • 12:00 PM GMT – (GBP) Monetary Policy Summary
  • 12:00 PM GMT – (GBP) Official Bank Rate
  • 12:30 PM GMT – (USD) Unemployment Claims
  • 12:30 PM GMT – (USD) Final GDP q/q