Intel, AT&T, and Twitter stock earnings in focus, geopolitical woes pressure investors into defensive activity despite stimulus measures provided hopes for economic recovery.
Summary: Global market is seeing major indices and key equities continue to trade mixed as geopolitical woes plague risk sentiment in the market while cues from stimulus measures and vaccine development help underpin investor sentiment to some extent. European market today saw major indices and key equities edge up in early trading session despite pressure from US-China tensions as upbeat earnings from Unilever and Daimler helped support market price momentum to some extent. Better than expected, German consumer climate data was also a welcoming cue in the market, however price action took a hit later in the day over worse than expected readings in Euro Zone consumer confidence data.
Rare Metals: Both Silver and Gold are continuing to post solid gains across futures and spot markets as uncertainties in market-led by geopolitical woes greatly support safe-haven demand. Gold and Silver continue to post fresh monthly highs, and gold is well on its way to rescale 9-year highs, albeit still remaining capped below $1900 handle.
Crude Oil: Crude oil price is flat in the international market today, and the price of both Brent and WTI futures even showed signs of slight bearish tone in European market hours. Following sharp build in US weekly stockpile data escalating China-U.S. tensions also came as a below to demand outlook causing early gains made from EU stimulus update to evaporate in the market.
DXY: As tensions between China and the USA continue to escalate, USD continues to take a deep hit. Expectations surrounding the 5th government stimulus package remains strong as traders and analysts believe that the government will come up with a stimulus package regardless of disagreements between trump administration and the senate. This further adds pressure to USD keeping it well near monthly lows.
On The Lookout: Focus remains on updates pertaining to the 5th Government covid-19 support package in the USA. Earlier yesterday, US Senate Republicans and White House announced that they have hammered out principle portion in agreement for an upcoming stimulus package. The update also mentioned that lawmakers are pushing to pass legislation before the end of the month, keeping risk sentiment supported to some extent. China continues to warn the US against its move threatening to retaliate should it enforce its order to force close Chinese consulate in Houston. The US has given a 72-hour deadline since it made its initial announcement, and as clock ticks closer to the deadline, the tension in global market peaks over what could become yet another long-lasting war between the US and China.
On the release front, the US calendar sees the release of Initial and continuing jobless claims while the earnings calendar remains as busy as yesterday in Wall Street. Some of the key stocks for which traders await earnings reports include – Intel AT&T, Union Pacific, Kimberly-Clark, Dow, Twitter Inc, Hershey, VeriSign, Fortinet, Citrix Systems, Tractor Supply, First Energy, E-Trade, Allegion PLC, Pentair, Under Armour A & C, Alaska Air and Alliance Data Systems.
Trading Perspective: Wall Street is expected to open flat over dovish cues from the international market and pressure from escalating China-U.S. tensions. But price action in the market today will remain fundamentally support in favour of bulls as hopes for the stimulus package and earnings report dictate short term directional bias.
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