AM Analysis
Nikkei falling to a 1-month low
The European and American losses that occurred yesterday continued throughout the Asian session with the Nikkei falling to a 1 month low as risk-averse investors pull their positions and seek safe havens due to the flared up issues that surround Ukraine and the slowdown in China. The Dow Jones dropped over 230 points throughout its session yesterday; a drop that has been mainly blamed on the slowdown in China after a warning was released saying its economy faces “severe challenges” throughout the year. It looks as though investors have sought safety in the Yen and Gold with both rallying as global stocks sank.
The FTSE 100 is set to open around 30 points lower this morning however with quite a thin economic calendar; bourses could take this opportunity to regain yesterday’s losses.
– Sam Fox
PM Analysis
European markets continued to decline
European markets continued to decline, with the FTSE 100 heading for its worst week of losses since June. Markets remained tentative ahead of a referendum in Crimea on whether to leave Ukraine to join Russia. Wall Street futures are indicating a 40 point lower open as investors refuge from risk on concern the situation in Ukraine is escalating. Clashes in eastern Ukraine late yesterday saw the death of one person whilst US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavroc met in London today.
The US Bureau of Labour statistics have said US core PPI fell to a seasonally adjusted -0.2% from +0.2% in the preceding month. Expectations were for a positive 0.1%, therefore falling slightly short. Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment is expected at 13:55, forecasting a higher figure since last month. The survey of 500 consumers who rate the relative level of current and future economic conditions is predicting a figure of 81.9, up 0.7 from February’s number.
– Lee Mumford
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