Global Market Report - June 4, 2018

Asian and European markets continued to gain ground after Friday's US job numbers

James Gard 4 June, 2018 | 10:53AM
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Asia

Japan and Hong Kong markets were the star performers on Monday as renewed optimism about the US economy spilled over into Asia. Fears over trade were nudged aside at the start of the new trading week as the strong showing for the Nasdaq put the tech-focused Hang Seng on the front foot.

Japanese equities have been held back in recent weeks by the dollar weakening against the yen in recent weeks. But Friday’s jobs data have given a push to the dollar and today the effect was seen in a rise on more nearly 1.5% in Japan’s market cap-weighted Topix index.

Europe

With the dollar gaining strength against the British pound, the FTSE 100 was given its usual boost by dollar earners. After a wobble at the end of the month, the index is nudging back towards its recent record high, gaining nearly 1% on Friday’s close to 7,760 points. Nevertheless, defensives were the biggest risers on Monday morning rather than commodity firms.

Better-than-forecast construction data for May suggest that the sector is still expanding healthily after poor weather hit activity in the winter. Tomorrow sees services data conclude the monthly roundup of CIPS/Markit PMI surveys.

Spain was the pick of the European exchanges on Monday after a turbulent few days in the political arena, while Italian shares crept up and 10-year bond yields fell back.

North America

The much stronger-than-expected US jobs numbers have shifted the expectations for the next interest rate rise by the Federal Reserve. Next week’s Fed meeting is now expected to see a quarter point rise in rates to between 1.75-2%, putting the US central bank even further ahead of the Bank of England, European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan in monetary tightening.

Stock market futures suggest that the US indices will extend Friday’s gains.

Trade will be on the agenda this week as the G7 group of nations meet in Canada on Friday.

 

 

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James Gard

James Gard  is senior editor for Morningstar.co.uk

 

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