Daily News – 28 February 2018
Investment Market Update
ASIA
Asian stocks slipped on Wednesday following their US counterparts lower after hawkish comments from new Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and weaker than expected economic data from China and Japan.
US
US stocks fell on Tuesday as comments from new Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell sent rates higher. The new chair signalled the central bank could hike rates more than three times this year in an effort to keep the economy from overheating.
UK
UK stocks were flat overall on Tuesday as investors awaited the appearance of Jerome Powell. Sky made gains of 18.3% as Comcast launched a bid to takeover the broadcaster.
Headlines
Amazon has bought a US firm that makes high-tech doorbells in a move expected to help the online retailer improve how it delivers parcels. Ring makes doorbells that record live videos of customers’ doorsteps, then sends the videos to their smartphones. The doorbell could help Amazon customers trust its new service which lets couriers open people’s front doors and put deliveries inside.
Estate agent chain Foxtons has reported a slump in profits as it warns of a London housing market near historic lows. The slowdown “had a significant impact on our overall performance in 2017, the estate agent said. Foxtons saw profits drop 65% for the year to 31 December 2017.
Market data
| Price | 1d | YTD | 2017 | |
| UK (£) | ||||
| FTSE 100 | 7,282.45 | -0.1% | -5.3% | 7.6% |
| FTSE 250 | 19,875.78 | 0.2% | -4.1% | 14.7% |
| FTSE All Share | 4,011.52 | 0.0% | -5.0% | 9.0% |
| FTSE Small Cap | 5,758.85 | 0.2% | -2.6% | 14.9% |
| Europe (€) | ||||
| Euro Stoxx 600 | 382.36 | -0.2% | -1.8% | 7.7% |
| DAX 30 | 12,490.73 | -0.3% | -3.3% | 12.5% |
| CAC 40 | 5,343.93 | 0.0% | 0.6% | 9.3% |
| US (US$) | ||||
| S&P 500 | 2,744.28 | -1.3% | 2.6% | 19.4% |
| Dow Jones Ind | 25,410.03 | -1.2% | 2.8% | 25.1% |
| NASDAQ | 7,330.35 | -1.2% | 6.2% | 28.2% |
| Asia | ||||
| Hang Seng | 30,820.42 | -1.4% | 3.0% | 38.5% |
| Nikkei 225 | 22,068.24 | -1.4% | -3.1% | 19.1% |
| Australia 200 | 6,015.96 | -0.7% | -0.8% | 7.0% |
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific | 178.99 | -0.2% | 3.0% | 28.7% |
| World (US$) | ||||
| MSCI World (Developed) | 2,140.57 | -0.9% | 1.8% | 20.1% |
| MSCI AC World (Dev & Em) | 523.83 | -0.9% | 2.1% | 21.6% |
| MSCI Emerging Markets | 1,212.33 | -0.7% | 4.7% | 34.2% |
| MSCI AC World Value | 225.00 | -0.8% | 0.4% | 15.2% |
| MSCI AC World Growth | 287.17 | -0.9% | 3.8% | 28.3% |
| Fixed Income | ||||
| FTSE Gilts All Stocks | 3,509.17 | -0.4% | -2.2% | 3.0% |
| FTSE Index Linked All Stocks | 627.58 | -0.5% | -3.1% | 2.3% |
| ML Sterling Corporate Bonds | 392.05 | -0.3% | -2.2% | 5.7% |
| ML Global High Yield Bonds | 378.00 | -0.1% | 0.2% | 9.7% |
| Commodities (US$) | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil | 66.63 | -1.3% | 0.3% | 14.5% |
| Gold | 1,315.59 | -1.3% | 0.7% | 11.8% |
| UK Sectors | ||||
| Basic Materials | 6,413.84 | -0.7% | 1.5% | 25.0% |
| Consumer Goods and Services | 19,946.48 | -1.1% | -10.8% | 13.6% |
| Financials | 5,291.67 | 0.2% | -2.3% | 13.3% |
| Health Care | 8,881.20 | 0.3% | -6.7% | -3.7% |
| Industrials | 4,011.52 | 0.0% | -5.0% | 9.0% |
| Oil & Gas | 8,355.33 | 0.2% | -7.8% | 6.0% |
| Technology | 2,062.67 | -0.1% | -10.4% | 23.5% |
| Telecommunications | 2,978.16 | -0.2% | -12.0% | 0.1% |
| Utilities | 6,521.17 | -1.2% | -11.1% | -14.8% |
| Currencies | ||||
| $ per £ | 1.40 | 0.3% | 3.4% | 9.5% |
| € per £ | 1.13 | -0.2% | 0.8% | -4.0% |
| ¥ per £ | 149.44 | -0.1% | -1.8% | 5.3% |
| Indicators | ||||
| VIX Index (Volatility) | 18.59 | 17.7% | 68.4% | -21.4% |
| Baltic Dry Index | 1,188.00 | -0.3% | -13.0% | 42.1% |