US major equity indexes ended the week on a positive note on the back of a stronger than expected employment data, despite reports of a dockworkers’ strikes at Eastern seaports in the US, writes Ian Slattery.
Ian Slattery, Zurich Investments
On Friday, the much-anticipated monthly nonfarm payrolls report revealed that employers added 254,000 jobs in September, nearly double the consensus forecast and the highest increase since March.
Unemployment data also exceeded expectations, with the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropping to 4.1%. On Monday, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported that factory activity in September held steady at 47.2 still in contractionary territory.
In contrast, the ISM services sector rose more than expected, reaching 54.9, its highest level in 19 months. The report also highlighted growing price pressures in the sector, marking their highest level since the beginning of the year.
In Europe, major equity markets decline as escalating conflicts in the Middle East made investors cautious. However, in terms of economic data, annual headline inflation in the eurozone slowed to 1.8% in September, the lowest level since April 2021 and below the forecast of 1.9%. Core inflation also eased slightly, dropping to 2.7% annually, from 2.8% in August.
The eurozone composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for September was revised upward to 49.6 from 48.9. With the PMI indicating weaker eurozone growth and inflation falling below the European Central Bank’s (ECB) 2% target, expectations of a further ECB interest rate cut in October are growing stronger.
Japan’s markets experience sharp declines early in the week as investors reacted to recent political developments. Shigeru Ishiba unexpectedly won the Liberal Democratic Party’s closely contested leadership election on Friday, September 27th, becoming Japan’s new prime minister. Ishiba’s more dovish stance, which was unexpected, put downward pressure on the yen.
Equities
Global stocks were up last week finishing at 1.2% in euro terms and down -0.7% in local terms. Year-to-date global markets are up by 18.9% in euro terms and by 18.1% in local terms. The US market, the largest in the world, finished up 2.2% in euro terms and 0.3% local terms.
Fixed Income & FX
The US 10-year yield finished at 4.0% last week. The German equivalent finished at 2.2%. The Irish 10-year bond yield finished at 2.6%. The Euro/US Dollar exchange rate finished at 1.10, whilst Euro/GBP finished at 0.84.
Commodities
Oil finished the week at $74 per barrel and is up 4.4% year-to-date in euro terms. Gold finished the week at $2,654 per troy ounce and is up 29.4% year-to-date in euro terms. Copper finished the week at $9,796 per tonne.
The week ahead
Monday 7th October
Eurozone retail sales data is published.
Thursday 10th October
US CPI goes to print.
Friday 11th October
US PPI is released.
About: Zurich Investments
The team at Zurich Investments is a long established and highly experienced team of investment managers who manage approximately €38bn in investments of which pension assets amount to €32.8bn. Find out more about Zurich Life’s funds and investments here.
The team at Zurich Investments is a long established and highly experienced team of investment managers who manage approximately €38bn in investment of which pension assets amount to €32.8bn. To find out more about Zurich Life’s funds and investments, w: zurichlife.ie/funds, Twitter: @ZurichLife, LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/zurich-life-assurance-plc