Equity Markets

Investors are closely watching the reopening plans of major countries. In the US, more states have started to loosen virus lockdown restrictions to allow people to get back to work. Major equity benchmarks gapped higher on the open on Monday. Ahead of a busy week with major central banks’ decisions and earnings results, stocks rallied globally as the reopening of certain economies is now underway.

All three US equity benchmarks rose by 1% or more on hopes of improving economic activities:

• Dow Jones Average Industrial added 359 points or 1.5% to 24,134.
• S&P500 rose by 42 points or 1.5% to 2,878.
• Nasdaq Composite added 96 points or 1.1% to 8,730.

Currency Markets

In the FX space, major currencies were mixed against the US dollar. Amid a risk-on environment following the gradual reopening of certain economies, haven currencies like the Japanese Yen, Swiss franc and the US dollar struggled to find demand while commodity currencies like the Canadian and Australian dollar were among the best performers.

As the greenback retreated, the Aussie dollar rose higher and is now consolidating in the 0.64 level. The local currency is likely going to remain at the broader sentiment of the markets as the Aussie calendar is relatively empty at the beginning of the week.

Ahead of a busy economic calendar, traders are awaiting the central banks’ policy statements and the US GDP figures which will be released across the week.

Oil Market

In the oil market, the turmoil continues, mostly dragged by an SEC filing by one of the world’s largest oil fund – the United States Oil Fund (USO). The USO has revised its investment in oil futures contracts to concentrate on futures contracts that are further out, as per the following:

• Approximately 30% of its portfolio in crude oil futures contracts on the NYMEX and ICE Futures in the July contract
• Approximately 15% of its portfolio in crude oil futures contracts on the NYMEX and ICE Futures in the August contract
• Approximately 15% of its portfolio in crude oil futures contracts on the NYMEX and ICE Futures in the September contract
• Approximately 15% of its portfolio in crude oil futures contracts on the NYMEX and ICE Futures in the October contract
• Approximately 15% of its portfolio in crude oil futures contracts on the NYMEX and ICE Futures in the December contract
• Approximately 10% of its portfolio in crude oil futures contracts on the NYMEX and ICE Futures in the June 2021 contract
• USCF will roll the current portfolio positions into the positions described above over a three-day period with approximately 33.3% of the investment changes taking place each day on each of April 27, 2020, April 28, 2020, and April 29, 2020.

Crude oil prices remained under heavy selling pressure. Attention will now be on the weekly EIA and API reports for fresh trading impetus.

Gold

As risk sentiment improves, gold struggled to find buyers and retreated from recent highs. Even though certain economies or states are detailing plans to resume activities, uncertainties still prevail. The XAUUSD pair is also finding support on a weaker US dollar and is still trading above a key level of $1,700.

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