Daily News – 19 February 2018
Investment Market Update
Asia
Asian stocks rose for a sixth-straight session, set for the longest winning streak in almost six weeks, after US stocks capped their biggest weekly gain in five years. Japanese shares rose for a third day.
US
US stocks held steady as gains in rate-sensitive utilities and property firms offset losses in consumer discretionary companies.
UK
UK stocks rose, closing with their best weekly performance in 14 months as London’s blue-chip index followed the recovery effort of US equities.
Headlines
The prime minister is to call for better value for students in England, admitting they face “one of the most expensive systems of university tuition in the world”. Theresa May will announce an independent review of fees and student finance later today.
London’s property market has moved out of its boom phase, according to Rightmove. The February report from the home-listing website shows that asking prices were down 1% from a year earlier, a sixth consecutive fall.
Market data
| Price | 1d | YTD | 2017 | |
| UK (£) | ||||
| FTSE 100 | 7,294.70 | 0.8% | -5.1% | 7.6% |
| FTSE 250 | 19,733.64 | 0.8% | -4.8% | 14.7% |
| FTSE All Share | 4,012.28 | 0.8% | -5.0% | 9.0% |
| FTSE Small Cap | 5,763.98 | 1.2% | -2.5% | 14.9% |
| Europe (€) | ||||
| Euro Stoxx 600 | 380.62 | 1.1% | -2.2% | 7.7% |
| DAX 30 | 12,451.96 | 0.9% | -3.6% | 12.5% |
| CAC 40 | 5,281.58 | 1.1% | -0.6% | 9.3% |
| US (US$) | ||||
| S&P 500 | 2,732.22 | 0.0% | 2.2% | 19.4% |
| Dow Jones Ind | 25,219.38 | 0.1% | 2.0% | 25.1% |
| NASDAQ | 7,239.47 | -0.2% | 4.9% | 28.2% |
| Asia | ||||
| Hang Seng | 31,115.43 | 0.0% | 4.0% | 38.5% |
| Nikkei 225 | 22,149.21 | 2.0% | -2.7% | 19.1% |
| Australia 200 | 5,941.59 | 0.6% | -2.0% | 7.0% |
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific | 176.56 | 0.3% | 1.6% | 28.7% |
| World (US$) | ||||
| MSCI World (Developed) | 2,137.91 | 0.3% | 1.6% | 20.1% |
| MSCI AC World (Dev & Em) | 522.60 | 0.3% | 1.9% | 21.6% |
| MSCI Emerging Markets | 1,199.74 | -0.2% | 3.6% | 34.2% |
| MSCI AC World Value | 225.25 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 15.2% |
| MSCI AC World Growth | 285.55 | 0.2% | 3.2% | 28.3% |
| Fixed Income | ||||
| FTSE Gilts All Stocks | 3,498.80 | 0.7% | -2.5% | 3.0% |
| FTSE Index Linked All Stocks | 625.83 | 1.4% | -3.4% | 2.3% |
| ML Sterling Corporate Bonds | 392.26 | 0.6% | -2.1% | 5.7% |
| ML Global High Yield Bonds | 378.77 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 9.7% |
| Commodities (US$) | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil | 64.84 | 0.8% | -2.4% | 14.5% |
| Gold | 1,353.76 | 0.2% | 3.6% | 11.8% |
| UK Sectors | ||||
| Basic Materials | 6,411.65 | -0.2% | 1.5% | 25.0% |
| Consumer Goods and Services | 20,313.80 | 1.0% | -9.2% | 13.6% |
| Financials | 5,302.87 | 1.0% | -2.1% | 13.3% |
| Health Care | 8,933.18 | 1.0% | -6.1% | -3.7% |
| Industrials | 4,012.28 | 0.8% | -5.0% | 9.0% |
| Oil & Gas | 8,239.27 | 0.5% | -9.1% | 6.0% |
| Technology | 2,061.20 | 1.2% | -10.5% | 23.5% |
| Telecommunications | 2,925.97 | 2.1% | -13.5% | 0.1% |
| Utilities | 6,341.79 | 1.2% | -13.5% | -14.8% |
| Currencies | ||||
| $ per £ | 1.40 | 0.1% | 3.9% | 9.5% |
| € per £ | 1.13 | -0.4% | 0.0% | -4.0% |
| ¥ per £ | 149.85 | 0.6% | -1.6% | 5.3% |
| Indicators | ||||
| VIX Index (Volatility) | 19.46 | 1.7% | 76.3% | -21.4% |
| Baltic Dry Index | 1,084.00 | -0.5% | -20.6% | 42.1% |