Markets in Asia and especially in Europe started September strongly after higher-than-expected inflation in the eurozone and very optimistic comments from ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos, who said that the eurozone economy is growing faster than the ECB expected, hinting at an upward revision of the central bank's growth forecast. On the downside, German retail sales disappointed in July, falling 5.1% month-on-month. Eurozone manufacturing PMI was lower than expected, but remained near record levels. August, normally a complicated month for the stock market, saw several record closes for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, with US equities pointing to a positive performance on the first day of the new month. The important 10-year US Treasury yield rose well above 1.3% again (currently at 1.32%). The USD remains weak ahead of the US jobs report in focus on Friday. Oil prices remained in a sideways range ahead of today's OPEC+ meeting. Ethereum broke through $3,500, the highest level since May 18. Bitcoin continues to trade in the $47K - $48K range.
Despite rising expectations that central banks will gradually move away from pandemic-era stimulus programs, markets continue to rise, showing that investment banks remain confident that the sustained rise in the stock market will continue. Statements from ECB officials showed that the ECB is optimistic about economic developments in the eurozone, but also that the conditions for a gradual withdrawal of stimulus measures are almost met. Higher 10-year US Treasury yields can be seen as an indicator that US investors also believe that economic growth will continue for longer. September was the worst month for equities in the last two decades, and we also see hedge funds preparing for a reversal. For now, markets remain optimistic, waiting for more clues on the Fed's plans for the coming months. The ECB's optimistic comments have eased growth concerns for now. Risk sentiment remains positive, supporting risk-sensitive currencies such as the AUD, NZD and emerging market currencies. The rise in the EUR is likely to continue as expectations rise that the ECB has started internal talks on scaling back stimulus measures, which the ECB will then report on in detail at the upcoming ECB meeting (on Sep 9).
Despite rising expectations that central banks will gradually move away from pandemic-era stimulus programs, markets continue to rise, showing that investment banks remain confident that the sustained rise in the stock market will continue. Statements from ECB officials showed that the ECB is optimistic about economic developments in the eurozone, but also that the conditions for a gradual withdrawal of stimulus measures are almost met. Higher 10-year US Treasury yields can be seen as an indicator that US investors also believe that economic growth will continue for longer. September was the worst month for equities in the last two decades, and we also see hedge funds preparing for a reversal. For now, markets remain optimistic, waiting for more clues on the Fed's plans for the coming months. The ECB's optimistic comments have eased growth concerns for now. Risk sentiment remains positive, supporting risk-sensitive currencies such as the AUD, NZD and emerging market currencies. The rise in the EUR is likely to continue as expectations rise that the ECB has started internal talks on scaling back stimulus measures, which the ECB will then report on in detail at the upcoming ECB meeting (on Sep 9).