Opening Bell: Trade Hopes Revive Global Stock Rally; Pound Rewards Brexit Shift

 | Apr 03, 2019 11:42

  • U.S. futures climb on reported trade deal progress; STOXX 600 triggers golden cross
  • Asian and U.S. stocks complete bullish patterns
  • Treasurys, yen, dollar drop; Oil hits 4-month high
  • Pound rallies as U.K. PM May meets opposition leader to break Brexit impasse
  • h2 Key Events/h2

    Global equities and futures on the S&P 500, Dow and NASDAQ 100 resumed a risk-on rally this morning, as U.S. Treasurys and the yen extended a selloff. China's Vice Premier Liu He's visit to Washington to continue trade talks swayed the sentiment-pendulum back to the hopeful side—a shift that was also helped by upbeat service sector readings from both Europe and China.

    The STOXX Europe 600 climbed for a fourth day, after the eurozone services PMI hit its highest level since December. Automobiles and miners outperforming once again. Technically, the price posted a fresh short-term peak, extending the uptrend since the late December bottom, to reach the highest level since early August. Through the rally, the gauge’s 50 DMA crossed above the 200 DMA, triggering a golden cross.

    In the earlier Asian session, regional indices closed higher, after the Financial Times reported that U.S. and China negotiators were close to reaching an agreement, having resolved "most of the issues standing in the way of a deal."

    China’s Shanghai Composite sealed a 1.24% advance after the country's services PMI beat expectations, further feeding a rally in iron ore. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng came in second with a 1.22% gain, followed by South Korea’s KOSPI, which climbed 1.2%. Japan’s Nikkei added 0.97% and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rallied 0.68%.

    h2 Global Financial Affairs/h2

    In yesterday’s U.S. session, all four major indices ended off their lows. The NASDAQ Composite was the only index to build on previous gains, edging 0.25% higher.

    The S&P 500 closed flat, with strength in Real Estate (+0.86%) and Communication Services (+0.53%) offsetting a selloff in Consumer Staples (-0.82%) and Energy (-0.69%). Technically, the price paused after an upside breakout of a bullish pattern.