NEW YORK, July 14 — The S&P 500 Index eked out a third straight closing record, overcoming a drop in the price of oil that dragged energy shares lower as a let-up in political turmoil in the UK kept demand for risk assets alive.
Metals advanced with emerging-market equities.
The US benchmark rose by less than half a point after gains over the past two weeks restored almost US$2 trillion (RM7.93 trillion) to the value of stocks.
Energy producers snapped a three-day climb as US crude sank below US$45 a barrel on an unexpected increase in fuel stockpiles.
Treasuries rose following their biggest two-day decline this year, as the US auctioned 30-year bonds at the lowest yield on record. Copper rose along with precious metals.
While calm has returned to global markets amid mounting confidence the vote for Brexit won’t significantly impede growth, rallies in stocks and some commodities lost momentum yesterday as investors looked for fresh signs that sluggish expansion isn’t eroding corporate profits.
America’s largest lenders begin reporting earnings today.
Riskier assets had been in demand on speculation central banks will act to safeguard the global recovery, even as the US economy shows signs of accelerating.
“You may see people profit-taking ahead of financial earnings, since we’ve had such a nice run over the last week and a half,” said Stephen Carl, principal and head equity trader at Williams Capital Group LP. in New York.
“If any situation occurs, whether it’s corporate earnings or something political going awry, that could exacerbate a decline.”
Stocks
The S&P 500 added less than 0.1 per cent to 2,152.43 as of 4pm in New York, closing at a record for a third straight day.
So-called defensive groups that pay higher dividends climbed the most, with telephone, consumer-staples and utility companies rising at least 0.5 per cent. Energy shares fell 0.7 per cent as a group as retailers and technology companies also retreated.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped 0.1 per cent, also taking a breather after the gauge came within 10 points of erasing its losses from after the UK’s June 23 referendum.
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index climbed 0.3 per cent, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng China Enterprises Index up 0.6 per cent in its third day of gains. China’s exports and imports slipped in dollar terms in June as soft demand continued to weigh on trade.
Futures trading signaled a potentially mixed today for Asia, following a Japan-led three-day climb in the region’s equities. Contracts on the Nikkei 225 Stock Average slid 1 per cent in Chicago, while separate futures on the Japanese stock index added 0.6 per cent earlier in Osaka.
In Australia, futures on the S&P/ASX 200 Index were up 0.2 per cent with those on the Kospi index in Seoul, while contracts on Hong Kong-traded shares fell.
Currencies
The yen climbed 0.2 per cent to 104.49 per dollar, after sliding more than 4 per cent over the previous two days. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered his economy minister to compile a package of stimulus measures this month, while the Sankei newspaper reported government officials are considering “helicopter money” as a policy option.
The pound retreated 0.8 per cent to US$1.314, halting a three-day advance. Theresa May took over as prime minister from David Cameron, ending a period of political instability that’s endured since the UK voted to leave the European Union.
The Canadian dollar strengthened after the country’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged, downplaying the impact of the Brexit vote and weaker US demand. The loonie rose 0.5 per cent to CUS$1.2978 per dollar.
The yuan added 0.1 per cent to 6.6952 per dollar in offshore trading amid speculation Chinese policy makers are limiting the supply of the currency in Hong Kong to deter bets on its depreciation.
Commodities
Copper surged to its highest level since late April, briefly topping US$5,000 a metric ton on expectations central bank efforts to spur economic growth will increase demand for metals. Iron ore traded on the Dalian Commodity Exchange retreated from its highest point since May.
Silver for immediate delivery jumped 0.9 per cent, as gold stemmed a two-day retreat to advance 0.7 per cent.
West Texas Intermediate crude sank 4.4 per cent to US$44.75 barrel, after jumping 4.6 per cent on Tuesday, while Brent lost 4.6 per cent to US$46.26 in London.
US gasoline supplies rose by 1.21 million barrels in the week ended July 8, Energy Information Administration data released yesterday showed.
Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast a drop of 1 million barrels.
Demand for the motor fuel fell during the week that included the July 4 Independence Day holiday — usually a peak consumption period — as output increased.
Bonds
Yields fell across Treasury maturities as a gauge of demand at yesterday’s auction climbed to the highest level since September. Yields on notes due in a decade fell by four basis points, or 0.04 percentage point, to 1.48 per cent. Rates, which sank to an unprecedented 1.32 per cent a week ago, surged 15 basis points over the prior two sessions.
Pacific Investment Management Co’s Total Return Fund increased its holdings of US government debt to the highest in 18 months just as investors including Jeffrey Gundlach and Bill Gross turn cautious.
Germany’s securities also halted a two-day decline, even as the nation auctioned 10-year debt with a negative yield for the first time. Yields are negative on around 38 per cent of the US$25.3 trillion of securities that comprise the Bloomberg Global Developed Sovereign Bond Index. — Bloomberg
