Daily News – 27 February 2018
Investment Market Update
ASIA
Investors in Asian equities opted to shun risk ahead of a speech by US President Donald Trump that may provide clues on his plans to cut taxes.
US
US equities advanced amid gains in utilities and phone stocks and a last-minute surge that saw the Dow Jones adding 77 points in the final hour of trading.
UK
UK stocks declined as Royal Bank of Scotland led the market lower after it reported its ninth straight year of losses. Shares in the bank fell after they announced a £7 billion loss for 2016. Pearson shares staged a recovery late in the session to close 1.7% higher for the day.
Headlines
The pound fell once again against all of its major peers after a report said that the government was preparing for Scotland to potentially call for an independence referendum in March.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s government is setting aside time for a Parliamentary battle to overturn changes she fears could be made to her draft Brexit law when it’s debated in the House of Lords this week.
Market data
| Price | 1d | YTD | 2016 | |
| UK (£) | ||||
| FTSE 100 | 7,243.70 | -0.40% | 1.40% | 14.43% |
| FTSE 250 | 18,588.64 | -0.30% | 2.80% | 3.71% |
| FTSE All Share | 3,939.17 | -0.40% | 1.70% | 12.45% |
| FTSE Small Cap | 5,310.19 | -0.30% | 3.20% | 10.97% |
| Europe (€) | ||||
| Euro Stoxx 600 | 370.01 | -0.80% | 2.40% | -1.20% |
| DAX 30 | 11,804.03 | -1.20% | 2.80% | 7.02% |
| CAC 40 | 4,845.24 | -0.90% | -0.40% | 4.86% |
| US (US$) | ||||
| S&P 500 | 2,367.34 | 0.10% | 5.70% | 9.54% |
| Dow Jones Ind | 20,821.76 | 0.10% | 5.40% | 13.42% |
| NASDAQ | 5,845.31 | 0.20% | 8.60% | 7.50% |
| Asia | ||||
| Hang Seng | 23,870.93 | -0.40% | 8.50% | 0.39% |
| Nikkei 225 | 19,107.47 | -0.90% | 0.00% | 1.84% |
| Australia 200 | 5,724.18 | -0.30% | 1.00% | 6.98% |
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific | 145.816 | -0.50% | 8.00% | 2.34% |
| World (US$) | ||||
| MSCI World (Developed) | 1,840.80 | -0.20% | 5.10% | 5.32% |
| MSCI AC World (Dev & Em) | 445.322 | -0.30% | 5.60% | 5.63% |
| MSCI Emerging Markets | 943.515 | -0.90% | 9.40% | 8.58% |
| MSCI AC World Value | 202.251 | -0.40% | 4.10% | 9.50% |
| MSCI AC World Growth | 231.101 | -0.20% | 7.20% | 1.81% |
| Fixed Income | ||||
| FTSE Gilts All Stocks | 3,558.22 | 0.70% | 1.00% | 8.51% |
| FTSE Index Linked All Stocks | 641.87 | 1.00% | 0.80% | 21.23% |
| ML Sterling Corporate Bonds | 386.601 | 0.60% | 1.40% | 10.75% |
| ML Global High Yield Bonds | 352.103 | 0.00% | 2.80% | 15.01% |
| Commodities (US$) | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil | 55.99 | -1.00% | -2.60% | 23.39% |
| Gold | 1,256.53 | 0.60% | 9.00% | 8.56% |
| UK Sectors | ||||
| Basic Materials | 5,495.72 | -1.80% | 8.80% | 93.91% |
| Consumer Goods and Services | 21,364.17 | 0.20% | 8.50% | 9.56% |
| Financials | 4,902.77 | -0.50% | 2.60% | 8.58% |
| Health Care | 10,260.02 | -0.20% | 3.90% | 5.83% |
| Industrials | 3,939.17 | -0.40% | 1.70% | 15.41% |
| Oil & Gas | 7,756.66 | -0.80% | -9.30% | 54.21% |
| Technology | 2,101.16 | 0.30% | 5.00% | 33.43% |
| Telecommunications | 3,294.18 | 0.60% | -2.50% | -14.66% |
| Utilities | 8,748.46 | 0.60% | 1.60% | 2.50% |
| Currencies | ||||
| $ per £ | 1.24 | -1.30% | 0.50% | -16.25% |
| € per £ | 1.18 | -0.50% | 0.60% | -15.73% |
| ¥ per £ | 139.2 | -1.70% | -3.70% | -22.69% |
| Indicators | ||||
| VIX Index (Volatility) | 11.93 | 1.90% | -15.00% | -22.90% |
| Baltic Dry Index | 856 | 0.00% | -10.90% | 101.05% |