LONDON, May 9 — European stocks and bond yields rose today, boosted by historically low stock market volatility, continuing relief from this weekend’s French presidential election and solid corporate earnings.
Europe’s index of leading 300 shares was up 0.4 per cent at 1,552 points, Germany’s DAX rose 0.3 per cent, France’s CAC 40 and Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.4 per cent.
Asian stocks did not perform as well, with China’s seventh consecutive loss — the longest losing streak for four years — weighing on the region more broadly.
But overnight, the VIX index of implied volatility on the S&P 500 — the so-called Wall Street “fear gauge” — fell to its lowest intraday level since December 2006. It closed at 9.77, its lowest closing level since December 1993.
US futures pointed to a slightly higher opening on Wall Street, which would see the S&P 500 moving even higher than yesterday’s record 2,401 points.
“It’s calm sailing today for stock markets after the VIX had its lowest close since 1993,” ETX Capital senior markets analyst, Neil Wilson, said. Victory for business-friendly centrist Emmanuel Macron in France and earnings were also supportive for equities, he said.
“So far, there is precious little to halt the rotation from bonds to stocks,” he said.
The FTSEuroFirst hit its highest for nearly two years, and the index of top 50 euro zone stocks its highest for 18 months. Germany’s DAX hugged close to yesterday’s record high.
Shares in Germany’s Commerzbank rose more than 2 per cent after the bank posted forecast-beating profits in the first quarter, and mining companies were among the leading gainers.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.1 per cent and Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.26 per cent.
The MSCI World index, which touched a record high overnight, dropped about 0.1 per cent.
Fed up, others still
In bond markets the 10-year US Treasury yield rose to 2.394 per cent, its highest in a month. The two-year yield held steady at 1.33 per cent, meaning the yield curve rose to its steepest for more than two weeks.
The yield curve had flattened last week to its lowest since the US presidential election in November as investors fretted over the impact higher interest rates will have on the economy.
Another hike in June is almost certain, according to market pricing, and investors now appear more convinced that the economy will take that in its stride, which could give the Federal Reserve more room to carry on tightening policy.
“For the most part, developed country central banks are pretty static when it comes to monetary policy,” Standard Bank’s head of G10 strategy in London, Steve Barrow, said. “Only the Fed is actively changing interest rates.”
This positive sentiment boosted the dollar. It rose 0.3 per cent against the yen to 113.65 yen and the euro was unchanged at US$1.0924 (RM4.74), again suggesting investors are reluctant to buy it above US$1.10.
The dollar index was up 0.1 per cent at 99.18.
In commodities, oil market sentiment swung between optimism over statements from major oil-producing countries that supply cuts could be extended into 2018 and lingering concerns over slowing demand and a rise in US crude output.
US crude rose 0.5 per cent to US$46.66 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent also rose 0.5 per cent to US$49.57.
Copper bounced from the four-month low touched yesterday after data showed a sharp drop on imports into China, the world’s biggest consumer. London copper rose 0.5 per cent to US$5,515 a ton today, after falling to as low as US$5,462.50 yesterday.
Gold recovered from a seven-week trough touched yesterday. Spot gold rose about 0.1 per cent to US$1,226.60 an ounce. — Reuters
