Stocks cheer record streak; dollar sinks
london — World stocks advanced for a fourth straight day on Friday on expectations of broad-based global growth, while the dollar was on course for its worst week in five as investors awaited US inflation data.
MSCI’s world equity index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was up 0.1 per cent after hitting record highs on Thursday.
Earlier in Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan hit a 10-year high.
European shares rose to their highest level in nearly four months, helped by some well-received earnings updates. The pan-European STOXX600 rose 0.3 per cent and was set for its fifth straight week of gains as were world stocks.
Germany’s DAX index was up 0.1 per cent, just below an all-time high hit in the previous session, while Britain’s FTSE eased back 0.1 per cent after a record close on Thursday.
Wall Street futures indicated a positive open for the S&P 500 index. “We’re seeing positive economic news even in the midst of so called geopolitical risk, I think investors are generally more optimistic right now,” said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA, referring to strong corporate earnings.
“Earnings in the second quarter were very positive, and looking beyond the impact of hurricanes, it seems like there’s improved fundamentals in the US and Europe.”
Emerging market stocks were buoyant too as another 0.2 per cent rise set their latest 6-year peak.
In currencies, the dollar stayed on the defensive after minutes from the last US Federal Reserve meeting showed policymakers remained divided on US inflation prospects.
The index which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies was flat ahead of consumer price inflation data, due at 1230GMT.
“Abating political risks in the US and growing Fed rate hike bets have pushed the dollar higher in recent weeks,” Credit Agricole strategists said in a note. “With a December rate hike almost fully priced in by now, however, investors are starting to focus on the Fed’s still cautious forward guidance and hence the limited scope for a further increase of the dollar’s rate advantage.”
On top of the near-term inflation readings, investors are looking at whom US President Donald Trump will nominate as successor to Fed Chair Janet Yellen, whose term expires next February.
Meanwhile, the euro was flat but still set for its biggest weekly rise in a month.
Britain’s pound rose to a 10-day high, boosted by a report in Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper that the European Union could offer Britain a two-year transitional Brexit deal.
The most eye-catching move, however, was from digital currency Bitcoin as it soared by as much as 7.4 per cent after Thursday’s 13 per cent gain, to hit a record high of $5,846 . It is up more than 450 per cent this year.
Among commodities, copper prices held firm after hitting a onemonth high on Thursday as optimism over the demand outlook from major consumer China fuelled buying. London copper futures were at $6,898.50 a tonne, up 0.2 per cent on the day. — Reuters