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Negative sentiment drives trading as trade tariffs expected imminently

Escalating trade tensions will once again be a central theme to driving sentiment and trading this week, with President Trump widely expected to levy tariffs on a further $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, potentially as soon as today. The elevated trade concerns sent Asian markets lower overnight and are weighing on European bourses as the opening bell approaches.

The decision to start to apply tariffs, which are rumoured to be 10%, rather than the initially higher level of 25%, is expected despite Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s attempts to restart talks with the Chinese to try to resolve trade difference between the two powers; once again highlighting the haphazard approach of the White House in its America First protectionist policies.

Trade concerns have been simmering for months and it is growing increasingly clear that neither side is prepared to back down, which is fanning fears that the world's two biggest economies are heading towards a trade war. For now, developed markets are taking heart from the scant signs the trade spat is able to shake the global economy.

Emerging market fears ease

Fears surrounding the emerging markets crisis are easing thanks to Turkey’s proactive policy move last week and Argentina’s austerity budget. Whilst these moves are helping to ease fears, structural issues relating to emerging markets remain, with the potential to rise to the surface once again, in the coming weeks.

Whilst US equity markets largely shrugged off trade and EM concerns on Friday, Asia looked vulnerable overnight. How well the markets manage to perform this week depends largely on trader’s ability to traverse across these two principal risks.

Will a recovering housing market boost housebuilders?

On the FTSE, housebuilders will be under the spotlight as trading kicks off for the week, following encouraging Rightmove house price data. The index showed a return to growth in house prices in September, amid signs of recovery in London and a pickup in sales of the capital’s most expensive properties. This is some welcome good news for the house builders after the UK housing market has been struggling thanks to slower economic growth, Brexit fears and weaker confidence, all of which have been more acutely felt in the capital.

Plans for Vodafone

Vodafone will be in focus following the unveiling of plans by the incoming CEO, Nick Read, to slash the firms €31 billion debt pile. Plans, including mast sales and cutting around 8% of the workforce come after an uninspiring outlook from the most recent trading update, owing to steep competition in French and Spanish markets. With more details due in November, investors will be weighing up whether these outlined plans are sufficient to turn the firm around and halt the slide in Vodafone’s share price, which is down 20% over the year.

The information and comments provided herein under no circumstances are to be considered an offer or solicitation to invest and nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. The information provided is believed to be accurate at the date the information is produced. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Please note that 79 % of our retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money.

14-12-2020

GBP jumps on Brexit talks extension
The British pound has jumped in early trading this week after the UK Prime Minister and EU Commission President agreed to extend Brexit talks beyond Sunday. MARKETSThe S&P 500 fell on Friday, wrapping up a losing week, as the outlook for additional fiscal… Read more

10-12-2020

AirBnB IPO today
At its IPO price of $6 per share, Airbnb ABNB, is expected to raise at least $3.5 billion with an initial market capitalization topping $40 billion. MARKETSStocks fell on Wednesday, retreating from the record highs set earlier in the day, as tech shares strug… Read more

9-12-2020

S&P 500 closes over 3,700
MARKETSThe S&P 500 closed above 3,700 for the first time ever on Tuesday as Pfizer started to roll out its coronavirus vaccine in the U.K., lifting hope of the economy recovering in the near future. The Dow Jones gained 0.4% while the Nasdaq Composite clim… Read more

8-12-2020

Global stock market cap reaches $100 trillion for 1st time
The value of all the stocks in the world put together has reached a giant $100 trillion for the first time. MARKETSThe Dow fell 0.69% Monday, led by Intel and broad-based weakness in value stocks as rising Covid-19 restrictions offset optimism over an imminen… Read more

4-12-2020

Pfizer vaccine supply chain problems
MARKETS The S&P 500 fell slightly from record high. Major U.S stocks indices cut gains quickly in the final hour of trading after Dow Jones reported Pfizer now expects to ship half of the doses it had previously planned this year after finding raw materia… Read more

2-12-2020

Dollar Purge Continues
The US dollar dropped to fresh two-and-a-half year lows on Tuesday, with EUR/USD rising above the widely-watched 1.20 handle. MARKETSNews• Stocks in Asia-Pacific were mixed in Wednesday morning trade after major indexes on Wall Street surged to record highs o… Read more

1-12-2020

Bitcoin hits record high
The price of Bitcoin climbed 8.7% on Monday to reach a fresh record high of $19,857.03 - overtaking its previous peak made in 2017. MARKETSNews• Asia stocks rise as the Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for November came in at 54.9 — its… Read more

30-11-2020

OPEC meeting starts
Today OPEC+ begin a 2-day meeting to decide whether to begin producing an extra 2 million barrels per day of oil, or delay for another 3-6 months. MARKETSNews• Asia-Pacific markets are mixed this morning while S&P 500 futures are down half a per cent. Ind… Read more