Daily News – 19 March 2018
Investment Market Update
Asia
Asia stocks were mixed, with Japanese shares declining as the country’s political drama tests investor nerves and as Apple Inc.’s move to make its own displays for the first time hit regional producers.
US
US stocks rose as a pair of positive economic reports on industrial production and consumer sentiment helped offset worries about political uncertainty amidst reports that President Donald Trump plans to remove national security adviser HR McMaster.
UK
UK stocks rose slightly as a weakening US dollar helped buoy the prices of commodities such as oil.
Headlines
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has raised its UK growth forecast, but warns it will be among the worst performing G7 economies until 2020. The BCC has raised its GDP forecast for 2018 from 1.1% to 1.4% and in 2019 from 1.3% to 1.5%. Its first forecast for 2020 is for 1.6% growth.
Facebook and a US data firm, Cambridge Analytica, have been accused of misleading Parliament. The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee said both firms must answer more questions over claims that details from 50 million profiles were gathered without consent.
Market data
| Price | 1d | YTD | 2017 | |
| UK (£) | ||||
| FTSE 100 | 7,164.14 | 0.30% | -6.80% | 7.60% |
| FTSE 250 | 19,804.90 | -0.10% | -4.40% | 14.70% |
| FTSE All Share | 3,957.08 | 0.30% | -6.30% | 9.00% |
| FTSE Small Cap | 5,754.80 | 0.00% | -2.70% | 14.90% |
| Europe (€) | ||||
| Euro Stoxx 600 | 377.71 | 0.20% | -2.90% | 7.70% |
| DAX 30 | 12,389.58 | 0.40% | -4.10% | 12.50% |
| CAC 40 | 5,282.75 | 0.30% | -0.60% | 9.30% |
| US (US$) | ||||
| S&P 500 | 2,752.01 | 0.20% | 2.90% | 19.40% |
| Dow Jones Ind | 24,946.51 | 0.30% | 0.90% | 25.10% |
| NASDAQ | 7,481.99 | 0.00% | 8.40% | 28.20% |
| Asia | ||||
| Hang Seng | 31,579.64 | 0.20% | 5.50% | 38.50% |
| Nikkei 225 | 21,480.90 | -0.90% | -5.60% | 19.10% |
| Australia 200 | 5,959.43 | 0.20% | -1.70% | 7.00% |
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific | 178.128 | -0.30% | 2.50% | 28.70% |
| World (US$) | ||||
| MSCI World (Developed) | 2,134.05 | 0.00% | 1.50% | 20.10% |
| MSCI AC World (Dev & Em) | 522.474 | 0.00% | 1.80% | 21.60% |
| MSCI Emerging Markets | 1,213.14 | -0.30% | 4.70% | 34.20% |
| MSCI AC World Value | 222.741 | 0.20% | -0.60% | 15.20% |
| MSCI AC World Growth | 288.461 | -0.20% | 4.20% | 28.30% |
| Fixed Income | ||||
| FTSE Gilts All Stocks | 3,563.46 | 0.10% | -0.70% | 3.00% |
| FTSE Index Linked All Stocks | 637.61 | 0.00% | -1.60% | 2.30% |
| ML Sterling Corporate Bonds | 394.509 | 0.00% | -1.60% | 5.70% |
| ML Global High Yield Bonds | 377.425 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 9.70% |
| Commodities (US$) | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil | 66.21 | 1.70% | 0.20% | 14.50% |
| Gold | 1,314.00 | -0.40% | 0.60% | 11.80% |
| UK Sectors | ||||
| Basic Materials | 6,182.07 | 0.40% | -2.10% | 25.00% |
| Consumer Goods and Services | 19,379.41 | -0.40% | -13.30% | 13.60% |
| Financials | 5,245.20 | 0.30% | -3.10% | 13.30% |
| Health Care | 9,075.54 | 1.00% | -4.60% | -3.70% |
| Industrials | 3,957.08 | 0.30% | -6.30% | 9.00% |
| Oil & Gas | 8,143.44 | 1.40% | -10.10% | 6.00% |
| Technology | 2,051.50 | -0.80% | -10.90% | 23.50% |
| Telecommunications | 2,884.14 | 0.30% | -14.80% | 0.10% |
| Utilities | 6,609.95 | 0.70% | -9.90% | -14.80% |
| Currencies | ||||
| $ per £ | 1.3965 | 0.20% | 3.30% | 9.50% |
| € per £ | 1.1321 | -0.20% | 0.50% | -4.00% |
| ¥ per £ | 148.017 | 0.10% | -2.80% | 5.30% |
| Indicators | ||||
| VIX Index (Volatility) | 15.8 | -4.80% | 43.10% | -21.40% |
| Baltic Dry Index | 1,150.00 | -1.60% | -15.80% | 42.14% |