Daily News – 7 March 2018
Investment Market Update
Asia
Asia stocks fell on news that Gary Cohn, US President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser and a key opponent of tariffs, would resign.
US
US stocks edged higher, boosted by the prospect of talks between North Korea and the US and also increasing opposition to President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on metals.
UK
UK stocks closed higher, up 0.43%. The biggest climber on the index was packaging group Smurfit Kappa Group which closed up 19.7% following a bid from US rival International Paper.
Headlines
Gary Cohn is resigning as President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser, leaving his post as the administration prepares to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum that Cohn has opposed.
Chancellor Philip Hammond will tell European leaders that it is in the “mutual interest” of both the UK and the EU to include financial services in a free trade agreement. In a speech, Mr Hammond will set out his argument against “sceptics”, saying it is possible to reach a deal.
Market data
| Price | 1d | YTD | 2017 | |
| UK (£) | ||||
| FTSE 100 | 7,146.75 | 0.4% | -7.0% | 7.6% |
| FTSE 250 | 19,690.31 | 0.6% | -5.0% | 14.7% |
| FTSE All Share | 3,945.73 | 0.5% | -6.5% | 9.0% |
| FTSE Small Cap | 5,758.67 | 0.6% | -2.6% | 14.9% |
| Europe (€) | ||||
| Euro Stoxx 600 | 371.37 | 0.1% | -4.6% | 7.7% |
| DAX 30 | 12,113.87 | 0.2% | -6.2% | 12.5% |
| CAC 40 | 5,170.23 | 0.1% | -2.7% | 9.3% |
| US (US$) | ||||
| S&P 500 | 2,728.12 | 0.3% | 2.0% | 19.4% |
| Dow Jones Ind | 24,884.12 | 0.0% | 0.7% | 25.1% |
| NASDAQ | 7,372.01 | 0.6% | 6.8% | 28.2% |
| Asia | ||||
| Hang Seng | 30,189.44 | -1.1% | 0.9% | 38.5% |
| Nikkei 225 | 21,252.72 | -0.8% | -6.6% | 19.1% |
| Australia 200 | 5,901.99 | -1.0% | -2.7% | 7.0% |
| MSCI AC Asia Pacific | 175.02 | 1.4% | 0.7% | 28.7% |
| World (US$) | ||||
| MSCI World (Developed) | 2,117.77 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 20.1% |
| MSCI AC World (Dev & Em) | 517.97 | 0.6% | 1.0% | 21.6% |
| MSCI Emerging Markets | 1,193.93 | 1.5% | 3.1% | 34.2% |
| MSCI AC World Value | 221.89 | 0.5% | -1.0% | 15.2% |
| MSCI AC World Growth | 284.67 | 0.8% | 2.8% | 28.3% |
| Fixed Income | ||||
| FTSE Gilts All Stocks | 3,518.98 | -0.3% | -2.0% | 3.0% |
| FTSE Index Linked All Stocks | 627.89 | -0.4% | -3.1% | 2.3% |
| ML Sterling Corporate Bonds | 392.34 | -0.2% | -2.1% | 5.7% |
| ML Global High Yield Bonds | 378.52 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 9.7% |
| Commodities (US$) | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil | 65.79 | 0.4% | -0.5% | 14.5% |
| Gold | 1,332.94 | 1.0% | 2.0% | 11.8% |
| UK Sectors | ||||
| Basic Materials | 6,126.33 | 1.7% | -3.0% | 25.0% |
| Consumer Goods and Services | 19,423.49 | -0.4% | -13.1% | 13.6% |
| Financials | 5,185.20 | 0.3% | -4.2% | 13.3% |
| Health Care | 8,983.39 | 0.3% | -5.6% | -3.7% |
| Industrials | 3,945.73 | 0.5% | -6.5% | 9.0% |
| Oil & Gas | 8,302.10 | 0.8% | -8.4% | 6.0% |
| Technology | 2,084.83 | 0.9% | -9.4% | 23.5% |
| Telecommunications | 2,952.92 | 0.4% | -12.7% | 0.1% |
| Utilities | 6,496.13 | 0.5% | -11.4% | -14.8% |
| Currencies | ||||
| $ per £ | 1.38 | -0.2% | 2.5% | 9.5% |
| € per £ | 1.12 | 0.2% | -0.3% | -4.0% |
| ¥ per £ | 147.00 | -0.3% | -3.4% | 5.3% |
| Indicators | ||||
| VIX Index (Volatility) | 18.36 | -2.0% | 66.3% | -21.4% |
| Baltic Dry Index | 1,212.00 | 0.2% | -11.3% | 42.1% |