Bassanese Bites: Buyer exhaustion – May 03 2021
Global markets Global equities struggled to move higher last week even in the face of good economic, policy and earnings news – suggesting an element of ‘buyer’s exhaustion’ has perhaps crept into the market. Is all the good news now priced into the market? Is there …
Bassanese Bites: Death and taxes – April 26 2021
Global markets Concern over rising COVID cases in hotspots such as Japan, Brazil and India set global equities back last week as did talk of a proposed hike in the U.S. capital gains tax for high-income earners. The end result was a small weekly pullback in …
Bassanese Bites: Sweet spot – April 19 2021
Global markets Another week, another rise in global equities it seems – helped on by ongoing solid economic growth and, most recently, a reassuring pullback in global bond yields. Indeed, last week’s much anticipated U.S. consumer price index report came and went without a murmur from …
Bassanese Bites: Yields stabilise – April 12 2021
Solid U.S. economic growth indicators, along with dovish Fed comments, continued to support global equities last week – helped by a further stabilisation in bond yields despite simmering U.S. inflation concerns. The U.S. ISM service sector index soared to 63.7 in March (from a …
Bassanese Bites: USA! USA! – April 06 2021
Global equities pushed on to new record highs last week as bond yields remained relatively well contained despite ongoing strong U.S. economic news. After harsh winter weather held back sections of the economy in February, early March U.S. economic data has been blisteringly strong. The …
Bassanese Bites: Rates relief – March 29 2021
Global markets Despite new lockdowns in Germany, risk-on sentiment improved last week thanks to a stablisation in bond yields, U.S. inflation relief, further progress in the U.S. vaccine rollout, and new freedoms for U.S. banks to pay dividends and buy back stock. U.S. Fed chair Powell spoke …
Bassanese Bites: The dot plot thickens – March 22 2021
Global markets Global equities wilted under under the onslaught of further bond yield increases last week, with the Federal Reserve opting not to respond with bond supportive policy measures in last week’s meeting. Indeed, under pressure from Democrats not to water down banking regulation, the Fed …
Bassanese Bites: Dot plot showdown – March 15 2021
Global markets Global equities managed to shrug off further upward pressure on bond yields last week, as the combination of strong economic growth yet tame inflation results buffeted investors. The S&P 500 Index rose 2.6% even as U.S. 10-year bond yields lifted 6 basis points to 1.63%. …
Bassanese Bites: Bond watch – March 08 2021
Global markets Global equities managed to end last week in positive territory, despite a further lift in bond yields. Although markets were initially disappointed that Fed chair Powell did not promise to do more to stem the rise in yields, investors finally concluded after the …
Bassanese Bites: Good news is bad news – March 01 2021
Global markets The ‘bloodbath’ in global bond markets continued last week, with U.S. 10-year bond yields ending the week up another 7bps to 1.41%. A poorly supported U.S. 7-year Treasury bond auction appeared to be the catalyst for last week’s further yield gain, with assurances from …