global equities

Wall Street under Pressure as Covid-19 Outbreak Escalates

COVID
Wall Street

Fears of another lockdown over the renewed escalation in the COVID-19 outbreak weighs down investor sentiment. 

Summary: Global equities are seeing mixed activity in trading session today led by multiple cues. Amid holiday in Chinese markets, the Asian market saw key indices and major stocks trade and close in red over concerns of escalating global COVID-19 outbreak.

While European markets followed suit and opened slightly lower in an earlier session, major indices and key stocks have recovered from early losses and are trading positive in mid-late trading session today. The loss at the start of the day was due to concerns about the declining prospect of economic recovery and escalating COVID-19 victim count. But the mood improved in the market with stocks from Automaker, utilities, and healthcare sector shares saw sharp gains. A sharp surge in Lufthansa stocks led by strong backing from shareholders on the bailout topic also helped improve market mood. 

Rare metals: Rare metals are seeing positive price action in the international market supported by a sharp increase in demand for safe-haven metals. Declining prospect for global economic recovery outlook following IMF forecast and escalating COVID-19 victim count keeps rare metals underpinned. But Gold is seeing mostly flat activity owing to lack of strong support to help push price above multi-year highs scaled yesterday. 

Crude Oil: Crude oil price is trading mostly positive on both WTI and Brent benchmarks in the international market today. While US stockpile data for the week hinted at build in inventory, hopes for market rebalancing itself helped improve support for crude oil bulls helping keep price above $40p/b. 

USDX:  The US Dollar index which measures the strength of US Greenback against six major global currencies is currently at 97.40-97.55 range. US Dollar grew stronger as risk aversion in the market continues to escalate over fears of another wave of global lockdown led by escalating renewed COVID-19 outbreaks across the globe. 

On The Lookout: The virus outbreak scenario in the USA is seeing sharp escalation with any and all efforts made by the government to control the outbreak so far ending in vain. The new victim cases recorded is currently crossing 34000 victims causing New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey to impose fresh 14-day quarantine on visitors coming in from the US states currently experiencing a high rate of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Florida and Texas are currently the top two states seeing large victim count. On the release front, the US calendar sees Jobless claims, GDP Q1, goods trade balance, and speech from FOMC members Bostic, Kaplan, and Mester. 

Trading Perspective: US futures trading in the international market was lower on account of risk aversion led by escalating COVID-19 outbreak and spike in Jobless claims which were released ahead of market opening. Given fears of another lockdown possibility, the US market is set to see major indices open lower in North American market hours today. 

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