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US stocks leave European peers behind
The US stock rally rejuvenated in New York yesterday. The Dow Jones and Nasdaq renewed record, as the US dollar index climbed to a fresh fourteen year high of 103.65.

Bank stocks (+1.10%) lead the Dow Jones higher. Goldman Sachs (+1.68%) and JP Morgan (+1.29%) added 35 points to the index. Higher yields hint at improved margins and revenues for the US banks. As the multi-year, low rate pressure is finally coming to an end, the US banks have certainly more to recuperate.

The Dow Jones came 13 points close to the 20’000 mark. The year-end appetite could give the bulls a hand for a renewed push toward the 20’000 resistance. Stops are eyed above. The Dow is set for a flat to positive open.

FTSE made a soft start to the trading day. Financials and mining stocks have hard time consolidating gains, while industrials (+0.36%) and technology stocks (+0.48%) are struggling to secure a positive session, although the bears are challenging the overall enthusiasm. As it appears, even a softer pound is not sufficient to wet investors’ appetite in London today.

Energy stocks are losing ground as Libya based oil rally fades amid the country’s major oil fields, El Feel and Sharara, reopened and are expected to pump 270’000 barrels per day within the next three months.

Monte dei Paschi fails big at fund raising

Monte dei Paschi fell drastically short in its efforts to raise 5 billion euros to be saved. Instead, Paschi’s debt-for-equity swap raised only 500 million euros. The weak appetite rings the alarm bell as the year-end deadline approaches at a threatening speed.

Failure to save the bank could aggressively shake up the Italian and the European banking sector.

Italian banks need 52 billion euros to be rescued, more than twice the 20 billion euro package proposed by the government on Monday.

Banking stocks in Italy are expected to remain under pressure until the country comes up with a realistic set of solutions.

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 71% 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