European Market Open Dec 29
European Market Open: Stimulus, Brexit clarity to drive higher start
- European markets are called to open markedly higher this morning, after US and Asian markets climbed to new record highs.
- The signing of a new US stimulus bill and the last-minute Brexit deal are providing clarity to markets and putting some major uncertainty in the rear-view mirror.
- In forex, the dollar has softened against the euro and the pound.
The FTSE 100 is set to open 0.5% higher at 6577.5 from its last closing price of 6547.3. UK markets closed early on December 24, when the Brexit deal was unveiled, and remained closed on Monday. That means today is the first opportunity for the FTSE 100 to respond to the breakthrough.
European indices: DAX to set to open at record high
The Euro STOXX Index is called to open 0.6% higher this morning at 3595.5 from 3574.2 at the close on Monday.
France’s CAC 40 is set to open 0.6% higher at 5616.1 from 5583.0.
Germany’s DAX is set to open up 0.7% at 13882.0 – a new record opening price – after ending Monday’s session at 13788.5.
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US markets closed at new record highs on Monday, driven by US president Donald Trump’s late approval of a new $2.3 trillion stimulus bill to help the world’s largest economy bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic.
The S&P closed up 1% higher to end Monday at 3738.1, while the DJIA closed 0.7% higher at 30416.0. Asian indices were also supported by the news overnight, with the Nikkei 225 also climbing to its highest level in 30 years.
There is still some wrangling over the stimulus bill. Trump has argued he wanted personal cheques for Americans to be raised from $600 to $2,000. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives has tried to capitalise by pushing through a vote to raise the amount on Monday, but it is unclear whether it will pass the Republican-controlled Senate.
Prepare for ‘bumpy moments’ ahead of Brexit
Markets have reacted positively to the last-minute trade deal announced by the UK and the EU on December 24, but there will still be ‘bumpy moment’s for UK businesses, according to government minister Michael Gove.
Although the deal has aimed to minimise disruption for both sides, there will be ‘practical and procedural changes’ to deal with when the transition period ends on December 31. With just days to go, businesses have been left with little time to understand what the deal means for them and to adapt. There could be dramatic changes for some industries such as financial services, which is largely excluded from the agreement.
EU ambassadors have provisionally approved the Brexit deal and the bloc will formally ratify it next month, while UK politicians are to vote on the deal this Wednesday.
The UK is also expected to sign a continuity trade deal with Turkey this week to maintain trade as it is now, while the EU is reported to be on the verge of finalising an investment pact with China that has been in the pipeline since 2014.
Admiral Group to distribute cash after asset sale
Admiral Group said it has agreed to sell a portfolio of comparison websites to ZPG Comparison Services Holdings UK for a total of £508 million. The sale includes the likes of Confused.com and Admiral said it expects to ‘return a majority of the net proceeds to shareholders’. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2021.
AstraZeneca secures Lynparza approval in Japan
AstraZeneca announced its Lynparza drug has been approved in Japan to treat advanced ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers.
William Hill eyes takeover completion early next year
William Hill said its takeover by US casino giant Caesars Entertainment should be completed early next year. The company said it expects to secure the required clearances to complete the deal ‘early in the second quarter of 2021, but possibly as early as March 2021’. William Hill shareholders approved the takeover back in November.
GBP/USD traded at 1.34743 this morning, up 0.2% compared to 1.34536 at the close yesterday.
EUR/USD was also up 0.2% at 1.22405 from 1.22159.
Meanwhile, EUR/GBP traded broadly flat at 0.90872 after ending Monday at 0.90795.
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Brent traded at $51.14 a barrel this morning, up 0.4% from $50.94 at the end of play on Monday, while WTI followed higher to $47.90 from $47.71.
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Gold traded at $1877 this morning, up 0.2% from $1873.
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Market-moving events in the economic calendar
You can view all the scheduled events for today using our economic calendar, and keep up to date with the latest market news and analysis here.
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