Daily News – 1 May 2018
Investment Market Update
Asia
Stocks in Australia and Japan traded mostly higher on Tuesday while many Asian markets were shut for a public holiday.
US
US stocks edged lower on Monday, as falling shares of healthcare companies and industrial stocks nearly dashed major indexes’ first month of gains since January.
UK
UK Stocks closed marginally up on Monday as the Sainsbury-Asda merger news boosted the supermarket takeover rumour mill. Sainsbury’s was the day’s biggest winner with shares rising 15%.
Headlines
The Trump administration has extended negotiations on steel and aluminium tariffs for 30 days with Canada, the EU and Mexico. It has also reached an agreement in principle with Argentina, Brazil and Australia.
Struggling floor covering chain Carpetright has warned it expects to make losses this year of between £7m-£9m, compared with a profit of £14.4m last year. It gave the warning on the day it asked shareholders to back a rescue plan, which includes closing 81 stores.
Market data
| Price | 1d | YTD | 2017 | |
| UK (£) | ||||
| FTSE 100 | 7,509.30 | 0.1% | -2.3% | 7.6% |
| FTSE 250 | 20,285.05 | 0.1% | -2.1% | 14.7% |
| FTSE All Share | 4,127.68 | 0.1% | -2.2% | 9.0% |
| FTSE Small Cap | 5,862.71 | 0.1% | -0.8% | 14.9% |
| Europe (€) | ||||
| Euro Stoxx 600 | 385.32 | 0.2% | -1.0% | 7.7% |
| DAX 30 | 12,612.11 | 0.2% | -2.4% | 12.5% |
| CAC 40 | 5,520.50 | 0.7% | 3.9% | 9.3% |
| US (US$) | ||||
| S&P 500 | 2,648.05 | -0.8% | -1.0% | 19.4% |
| Dow Jones Ind | 24,163.15 | -0.6% | -2.2% | 25.1% |
| NASDAQ | 7,066.27 | -0.8% | 2.4% | 28.2% |
| Asia | ||||
| Hang Seng | 30,808.45 | 0.0% | 3.0% | 38.5% |
| Nikkei 225 | 22,503.43 | 0.2% | -1.1% | 19.1% |
| Australia 200 | 6,015.80 | 0.6% | -0.8% | 7.0% |
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific | 174.17 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 28.7% |
| World (US$) | ||||
| MSCI World (Developed) | 2,086.51 | -0.5% | -0.8% | 20.1% |
| MSCI AC World (Dev & Em) | 509.69 | -0.3% | -0.6% | 21.6% |
| MSCI Emerging Markets | 1,164.43 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 34.2% |
| MSCI AC World Value | 219.09 | -0.4% | -2.2% | 15.2% |
| MSCI AC World Growth | 279.22 | -0.3% | 0.9% | 28.3% |
| Fixed Income | ||||
| FTSE Gilts All Stocks | 3,562.16 | 0.3% | -0.7% | 3.0% |
| FTSE Index Linked All Stocks | 630.36 | 0.9% | -2.7% | 2.3% |
| ML Sterling Corporate Bonds | 395.32 | 0.3% | -1.4% | 5.7% |
| ML Global High Yield Bonds | 376.76 | 0.0% | -0.2% | 9.7% |
| Commodities (US$) | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil | 74.69 | 1.2% | 14.1% | 14.5% |
| Gold | 1,317.16 | -0.4% | 0.8% | 11.8% |
| UK Sectors | ||||
| Basic Materials | 6,193.89 | -1.2% | -2.0% | 25.0% |
| Consumer Goods and Services | 19,906.94 | 0.1% | -11.0% | 13.6% |
| Financials | 5,310.76 | 0.3% | -1.9% | 13.3% |
| Health Care | 9,921.37 | -0.1% | 4.3% | -3.7% |
| Industrials | 4,127.68 | 0.1% | -2.2% | 9.0% |
| Oil & Gas | 9,327.22 | 0.1% | 2.9% | 6.0% |
| Technology | 1,810.97 | -0.8% | -21.3% | 23.5% |
| Telecommunications | 3,053.23 | 0.5% | -9.8% | 0.1% |
| Utilities | 7,234.05 | -0.1% | -1.4% | -14.8% |
| Currencies | ||||
| $ per £ | 1.38 | 0.1% | 2.0% | 9.5% |
| € per £ | 1.14 | -0.1% | 0.9% | -4.0% |
| ¥ per £ | 150.29 | 0.1% | -1.3% | 5.3% |
| Indicators | ||||
| VIX Index (Volatility) | 15.93 | 3.4% | 44.3% | -21.4% |
| Baltic Dry Index | 1,341.00 | -1.5% | -1.8% | 42.1% |