Market Update

Markets Update: Interest rate expectations weigh on equity markets

By Business & Finance
08 October 2018

The global index was down but oil was up and closed at over $74/barrel, marking its longest weekly winning streak this year, writes Ian Slattery.

ian slattery zurich

Ian Slattery

Stocks fell last week, as a focus on rising interest rates took centre stage. Fed Chair, Powell’s positive view on the US economy, coupled with strong US economic data, drove the 10 year US treasury yield to above 3.2% – the highest in seven years.

On Friday, non-farm payroll data in the US disappointed slightly, as the economy only added 134,000 jobs (vs a last reading of 270,000). However, much of the disappointment was attributed to the impact of Hurricane Florence, and the unemployment rate did move to 3.7%.

A replacement deal for NAFTA was also agreed, with the US, Mexico, and Canada joining to create the USMCA trading group. The euro was hit by a disagreement between the EU and Italy over budget plans, which will hopefully see a resolution over the coming weeks.

The global index was down -0.7% in euro terms, with Hong Kong the worst performing of the major markets. Oil was up and closed at over $74/barrel, marking its longest weekly winning streak since January. Gold moved higher over the course of the week and closed at over $1,200 per troy ounce. The ten year US bond yield finished at 3.23%, having started the year at 2.41%.

The German equivalent also closed higher at 0.57%. The EUR/USD rate finished the week at 1.15, with the EUR/GBP rate at 0.88.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday 10th October

The US Producer Price Index (PPI) for September goes to print where the consensus forecasts a rise of 0.2% (MoM).

US CPI for September is also released where the market expects the core figure to come in at 0.2 (MoM).

Friday 12th October

Some large US financials provide their latest earning figures, with JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup all reporting.

The team at Zurich Investments is a long established and highly experienced team of investment managers who manage approximately €22.9bn in investments of which pension assets amount to €10.4bn. Find out more about Zurich Life’s funds and investments here.

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Warning: Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance. Benefits may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates. The value of your investment may go down as well as up. If you invest in these funds you may lose some or all of the money you invest.