Asian markets advanced on Tuesday. The Kospi rallied 1.1% to 2025, the ASX climbed 1.2% to 4248, and the Hang Seng tacked on 1% to 21340. China’s Shanghai Composite rose .9%, as rumors of a fuel price hike lifted energy shares. Japan lagged behind, inching up just .1% to 9899, after the Bank of Japan opted to not introduce another round of easing at this point.
In Europe, shares rallied, as upbeat economic data from Germany and the US lifted investor confidence. The CAC40 surged 1.7%, the DAX jumped 1.4%, and the FTSE advanced 1.1%. Banking shares bounced 3.3% as financials led the gains.
The rally continued in the US, where the Dow blasted past the 13000 level, to 13178, up 218 points. The S&P 500 rallied 1.8%, and the Nasdaq soared 1.9% to 3040, its first close above 3000 since 2000. The VIX tumbled 5.4% to 14.80, its lowest level since 2007.
Dow Rallies 218 Points
The Fed left rates steady, and failed to announce any new economic policies, but acknowledged that the economy is improving.
Currencies
The US dollar settled mixed against global currencies, as investors digested the latest round of global economic data. The Swiss franc and yen both fell .7% to 1.0834 and 82.94 respectively, while the euro dropped .5% to 1.3086. The pound climbed .5% to 1.5710, the Australian dollar rose .3% to 1.0550, and the Canadian dollar gained .4% to .9883.
Economic Outlook
The German ZEW economic sentiment index hit a one-year high, spiking to 22.3 and blowing past analyst estimates of 10.6. In the US, retail sales rose .9% last month, slightly better than forecast, although the TIPP economic optimism index fell to 47.5 from 49.4.
Bonds Tumble
EquitiesMost Asian markets rallied for a second day on Wednesday as the Fed’s stress test list indicated that most US banks are in healthy shape. The Nikkei advanced 1.5% to 10051, its highest close since July, the Kospi gained 1% to 2045, and the ASX 200 rose .9%. In contrast, the Shanghai Composite tumbled 2.6% after the government dismissed the possibility of an easing in property restrictions. Property shares fell 3.7% on the news. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng closed down .2%.
European markets closed mixed as well. The DAX rallied 1.2%, the CAC40 added .4%, while the FTSE slipped .2%. Banking shares climbed as investors cheered the stress test news, with the sector gaining 1.5%.
Back in the US, stocks closed little changed after Wednesday’s spike. The Dow rose 16 points to 13195, the S&P 500 eased .1%, and the Nasdaq closed flat.
Currencies
The US dollar rallied in the currency markets on Wednesday. The Australian dollar dropped .8% to 1.0450, as the slide in metals weighed heavily on the commodity currency. The euro shed .4% to 1.3030, the Swiss franc skidded .7% to 1.0748, and the pound eased .2% to 1.5677. The yen continued to fall, sliding .7% to 83.6925.
Economic Outlook
Import prices rose .4%, less than expected, while the US current account deficit surged to $124 billion, a 3-year high.
US Stocks Climb on Solid Data, S&P Crosses 1400 Mark
EquitiesAsian markets traded mixed on Thursday. The Nikkei rose .7% to 10123 a 7-month high, as a drop in the yen lifted exporters, with Mazda up 6.1%, Honda up 3.5%, and Canon up 3.7%. Korea’s Kospi eased fractionally, and the ASX 200 declined .2% as miners weighed on the index. In greater China, the Shanghai Composite declined .7% to 2374, extending Wednesday’s sharp 2.6% drop, while the Hang Seng edged up .2%.
In Europe, stocks closed mostly higher, as the DAX climbed .9%, and the CAC40 advanced .4%. The FTSE trailed behind, slipping .1%.
US indexes advanced, with the S&P 500 crossing the 1400 mark for the first time since 2008. The Dow tacked on 59 points to 13253, the Nasdaq rose .5%, and the S&P 500 gained .6% to 1403.
Recent Stock Market Rally Pushes S&P 500 Above 1400
Bank shares continued to rally, with Bank of America up 4.5%, and Citigroup up 3%.
Currencies
Foreign currencies climbed against the US dollar after yesterday’s rout. The euro rose .4% to 1.3080, and the pound gained .3% to 1.5714. The Swiss franc and Australian dollar both rallied .8%, and the yen rose .2% to 83.55, reversing from an earlier drop down to 84.17.
Economic Outlook
Thursday’s economic reports were quite upbeat. Weekly unemployment claims dropped to 351K, 14K better than last week, and better than forecast. PPI rose .4%, less than expected, and both the Empire State manufacturing index, and the Philly Fed index exceeded analyst forecasts.
Stocks Mixed on Disappointing US Data
EquitiesAsian markets traded mixed on Friday. The Nikkei managed to stretch its winning streak to 4, inching up .1% to 10130, and the Shanghai Composite climbed 1.3% to 2405. Amongst the losers, the Kospi slid .5% to 2034, the ASX 200 closed down fractionally, and the Hang Seng declined .2% to 21318.
In Europe, stocks gained, led by insurance companies, which advanced 2% after gaining concessions in the latest EU capital requirements. The FTSE and CAC40 climbed .4%, and the DAX rose .2%.
The major US indexes closed mixed in narrow trading. The Dow declined 20 points to 13234, ending a 7-day winning streak, the S&P 500 rose .1%, to 1404 and the Nadaq eased 1 point to 3055. The VIX dropped 6.2% to 14.47, and touched a 5-year low of 13.76 earlier in the day.
Research in Motion jumped 6.9% on rumors of a potential investment by Samsung in the company.
Bank of America jumped 6.1% to 9.80, as the recent rally in the stock continued.
Currencies
The dollar tanked on Friday, pressured by disappointing US economic data. The Australian dollar surged 1.4% to 1.0594, while the euro and pound rallied 1.1% to 1.3176 and 1.5838 respectively. The yen rose .2% to 83.45, and the Canadian dollar settled flat at .9921.
Economic Outlook
Friday’s economic data was universally weak. CPI data was in line with estimates, rising at .4%, although Core CPI rose just .1%, less than expected. Consumer Sentiment unexpectedly declined last month, slipping to 74.3 from 75.3. Industrial Production was flat, significantly weaker than last month’s .4% growth.
US Stocks Gain, Apple Settles Above $600
EquitiesAsian markets traded mostly higher on Monday. In Japan, the Nikkei ticked up .1% to 10142, extending its winning streak to 5 days, and in Korea, the Kospi advanced .6% to 2047. Australia’s ASX 200 gained.3% as miners rallied, and the Shanghai Composite edged up .2%. The Hang Seng slumped 1% to 21115, as negative comments regarding Chinese banks weighed on the index.
In Europe, stock closed modestly lower. The CAC40 dropped .5%, while the FTSE and DAX declined less than .1%.
Meanwhile, US stocks gained, but ended off their highs. The Nasdaq rallied .8% to 3078, the S&P 500 climbed .4% to 1410, and the Dow rose 7 points to 13239.
Currencies
The dollar dropped against foreign currencies as investors continued to shift capital into riskier investments. The euro rose .5% to 1.3242, the pound gained .4%, and the Swiss franc rallied .6% to 1.0977. The Canadian dollar advanced .5% to .9870, and the yen rose .1% to 83.34.
The euro's bounce continues.
Economic Outlook
The NAHB houing market index came in flat at 28, but was below expectations. 28 is the highest level recorded since June 2007.