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Top 5 things to know in the market on Monday

Published 09/11/2017, 05:08 AM
Updated 09/11/2017, 05:08 AM
© Reuters.  Top 5 things to know today in financial markets

© Reuters. Top 5 things to know today in financial markets

Investing.com - Here are the top five things you need to know in financial markets on Monday, September 11:

1. Global stocks rally as North Korea tensions ebb... for now

Global stock markets started the week on the front foot, as appetite for riskier assets improved amid relief that North Korea refrained from conducting a weapons test to mark the anniversary of the country's founding.

There had been speculation in the lead up to the weekend that North Korea could launch its next missile test then to celebrate the occasion.

Still, tensions may return with a United Nations Security Council vote due as early as today, that calls for further sanctions on the isolated nation.

Stock markets across Asia closed mostly in positive territory, with benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul ending higher, while markets in mainland China were mixed.

In Europe, shares inched broadly higher in mid-morning trade, with almost all major bourses across the region in the green.

Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures pointed to a stronger open on Wall Street, with the Dow and S&P futures gaining 0.5%, while the Nasdaq was on track to rise 0.7%.

2. Hurricane Irma weakens after making landfall

Risk sentiment received a further boost after Hurricane Irma struck the U.S. southeast with less force than once feared, scaling back estimates for economic damage.

Irma hit Florida on Sunday morning as a dangerous Category 4 storm, the second highest level on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, but by afternoon as it barreled up the west coast, it weakened to a Category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour (177 kph).

It is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm over northern Florida or southern Georgia later Monday.

Oil, gasoline and orange juice futures reacted favorably to the news, while shares of insurance providers looked set to enjoy a strong day of gains.

3. Safe-havens lose shine

Demand for safe-haven assets such as gold, the Japanese yen and sovereign bonds eased, as tensions over North Korea eased and Hurricane Irma weakened.

Prices of the yellow metal fell around $10.00, or 0.8%, to $1,342.17 a troy ounce, pulling back from Friday's peak of $1,362.40, which was the best level since Aug. 3, 2016.

Meanwhile, the dollar was up 0.6% at 108.45 against the yen, moving away from a 10-month nadir of 107.32 yen touched on Friday.

Against a basket of currencies, the greenback added almost 0.2% to 91.50, bouncing back after skidding to a two-and-a-half-year low of 90.99 on Friday.

Investors also scaled back purchases of global bonds, pushing U.S. Treasury and German Bund yields higher.

4. Euro slips below $1.20 on Coeure jawboning

The euro fell below the $1.20-level after European Central Bank Executive Board member Benoit Coeure said that persistent exogenous shocks to the exchange rate could lead to unwarranted tightening of financial conditions with undesirable consequences for inflation.

The remarks came after ECB President Mario Draghi indicated last week that the bank may start tapering its massive stimulus program this autumn.

The euro fell to a session low of 1.1993 against the dollar after his comments before recovering partially. It reached a more than two-year peak of 1.2092 on Friday.

5. Bitcoin in focus amid China crackdown rumors

Bitcoin, the world's biggest digital currency by market cap, edged lower, extending weekend losses on reports saying that China was planning to shut down local cryptocurrency exchanges.

Bitcoin was last at $4,160.60, down $71.50, or around 1.7%, well below an all-time high of $4,911.80 touched on Sept. 2.

The latest crackdown on cryptocurrency activity in China comes less than a week after Beijing sent shockwaves through the market, after imposing a ban on individuals and businesses from raising funds through initial coin offerings (ICOs).

Latest comments

no dancing
Any one know timing
When UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING
 They just voted unanimously on the most stringent sanctions ever, banning OIL imports. China and Russia voted yes.
BItcoin arent the only ones, all high value cryptocurrencies are falling for the second time thanks to China. This time it looks like they wont recover so fast. On the flipside, some smaller cryptocurrencies have shot forward in price as speculation begins.
What's happening in China will spread to the US as well in the next few months. Cryptocoins will never be the same again
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