Markets update: Equities notch second straight week of gains

Equities finished the week in positive territory as strong earnings and the prospects for US fiscal stimulus buoyed markets. Ian Slattery reports.

Ian Slattery, Zurich Insurance

In terms of sectors, communication services outperformed, led by positive earnings releases from Twitter. It is now expected that aggregate earnings on the S&P will grow year-on-year, which would signal a very quick recovery when compared with previous economic cycles. 80% of earnings so far this quarter have exceeded expectations.

There was much market commentary following the latest US inflation report, which showed prices rose 0.3% in January. However, that was largely due to rising energy prices whilst the ‘core’ metric (which strips out food and energy prices) was more subdued. Despite this, expectations for future inflation are trending higher as both US business and consumers expect to see price rises in the future. Speaking on Wednesday, Fed Chair Powell assuaged any concerns that the Fed may act early to keep inflation in check, stating policymakers remain committed to low interest rates and continuing the asset purchase programmes.

There was much market commentary following the latest US inflation report, which showed prices rose 0.3% in January.

European economic data was mixed as UK Q4 GDP surprised to the upside, rising 1% quarter-on-quarter. Optimism was tempered by the fact that the annual figure saw a fall of 7.8% – the sharpest contraction in modern times. Eurozone industrial production also provided a lacklustre reading. In Italy, former ECB President Mario Draghi looks set to unite parties across the political spectrum and form a national unity government.

Vaccine rollout programmes continued worldwide with President Biden announcing on Thursday that the US has procured 200 million additional vaccine doses. Within Europe, Germany has extended lockdowns until March and a number of countries are considering border controls as virus case numbers remain high amidst the vaccine rollout.

Equities

Global markets were up for the second week in a row last week by 0.3% in euro terms and 0.8% in local terms. Year to date global markets are up 5.9% in euro terms and 4.9% in local terms. The influential US market was up by 0.1% in euro terms and 0.7% in local terms.

Fixed Income & FX

The US 10-year yield finished at 1.21% last week. The German equivalent finished at -0.39%. The Irish 10-year bond yield finished at -0.06%. The Euro/US Dollar exchange rate finished at 1.21, whilst Euro/GBP finished at 0.87.

Commodities

Oil finished the week at $61 per barrel. Gold finished the week at $1,818 per troy ounce. Copper finished the week at $8,352 per tonne.