Daily News – 26 February 2018
Investment Market Update
ASIA
Asian stocks rose, extending a two-week global rally, after US stocks posted strong gains and Treasury yields steadied. US monetary policy is back in focus with two appearances from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
US
US stocks increased, led by tech stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 164 points at 25,127. The S&P 500 has gained 3 points up to 2,719. The Nasdaq Composite was up 48 points at 7,257.
UK
UK stocks fell slightly on Friday. British Airways owner, IAG, was the biggest loser with a near 6% loss, after it reported annual results. One analyst said that sales were a less than hoped for and fuel costs were higher than expected.
Headlines
Legislation to crack down on expensive energy tariffs is being introduced to Parliament on Monday. The government claims it will protect 11 million people from costly tariffs. The law will allow energy regulator Ofgem to limit what companies can charge customers for their standard variable tariffs. Energy UK, which represents gas and electricity suppliers, said it was vital the cap did not stifle competition in the energy market.
The UK economy expanded by less than previously thought in the last three months of 2017, official figures say. GDP grew by 0.4% in the October-to-December period, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, down from the initial estimate of 0.5%. The revision was due to slower growth in production industries, the ONS said.
Market data
| Price | 1d | YTD | 2017 | |
| UK (£) | ||||
| FTSE 100 | 7,244.41 | -0.1% | -5.8% | 7.6% |
| FTSE 250 | 19,801.05 | 0.3% | -4.5% | 14.7% |
| FTSE All Share | 3,991.50 | 0.0% | -5.5% | 9.0% |
| FTSE Small Cap | 5,727.30 | 0.3% | -3.1% | 14.9% |
| Europe (€) | ||||
| Euro Stoxx 600 | 381.16 | 0.2% | -2.1% | 7.7% |
| DAX 30 | 12,483.79 | 0.2% | -3.4% | 12.5% |
| CAC 40 | 5,317.37 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 9.3% |
| US (US$) | ||||
| S&P 500 | 2,747.30 | 1.6% | 2.8% | 19.4% |
| Dow Jones Ind | 25,309.99 | 1.4% | 2.4% | 25.1% |
| NASDAQ | 7,337.39 | 1.8% | 6.3% | 28.2% |
| Asia | ||||
| Hang Seng | 31,486.97 | 0.7% | 5.2% | 38.5% |
| Nikkei 225 | 22,153.63 | 1.2% | -2.7% | 19.1% |
| Australia 200 | 6,042.18 | 0.7% | -0.4% | 7.0% |
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific | 178.14 | 1.2% | 2.5% | 28.7% |
| World (US$) | ||||
| MSCI World (Developed) | 2,140.91 | 1.1% | 1.8% | 20.1% |
| MSCI AC World (Dev & Em) | 524.12 | 1.1% | 2.2% | 21.6% |
| MSCI Emerging Markets | 1,216.43 | 1.3% | 5.0% | 34.2% |
| MSCI AC World Value | 225.10 | 1.1% | 0.5% | 15.2% |
| MSCI AC World Growth | 287.35 | 1.1% | 3.8% | 28.3% |
| Fixed Income | ||||
| FTSE Gilts All Stocks | 3,518.20 | 0.2% | -2.0% | 3.0% |
| FTSE Index Linked All Stocks | 629.08 | 0.1% | -2.9% | 2.3% |
| ML Sterling Corporate Bonds | 392.71 | 0.0% | -2.0% | 5.7% |
| ML Global High Yield Bonds | 377.46 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9.7% |
| Commodities (US$) | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil | 67.31 | 1.4% | 1.3% | 14.5% |
| Gold | 1,330.27 | 0.0% | 1.8% | 11.8% |
| UK Sectors | ||||
| Basic Materials | 6,362.57 | -0.7% | 0.7% | 25.0% |
| Consumer Goods and Services | 20,020.93 | 1.0% | -10.5% | 13.6% |
| Financials | 5,273.25 | -0.3% | -2.6% | 13.3% |
| Health Care | 8,809.80 | -0.5% | -7.4% | -3.7% |
| Industrials | 3,991.50 | 0.0% | -5.5% | 9.0% |
| Oil & Gas | 8,253.33 | 0.0% | -8.9% | 6.0% |
| Technology | 2,054.61 | -0.9% | -10.8% | 23.5% |
| Telecommunications | 2,968.97 | 2.1% | -12.3% | 0.1% |
| Utilities | 6,563.17 | 1.5% | -10.5% | -14.8% |
| Currencies | ||||
| $ per £ | 1.40 | -0.1% | 3.3% | 9.5% |
| € per £ | 1.13 | -0.4% | 0.5% | -4.0% |
| ¥ per £ | 149.11 | -0.2% | -2.1% | 5.3% |
| Indicators | ||||
| VIX Index (Volatility) | 16.49 | -11.9% | 49.4% | -21.4% |
| Baltic Dry Index | 1,185.00 | 1.5% | -13.3% | 42.1% |