Market Headlines – 16/2/2018

US

• The S&P 500 finished higher for a fifth consecutive session yesterday, rising 1.2%. Technology and Utilities were among the best performers for the session.
• The S&P 500 has gained 5% over recent sessions, recovering half of the initial 10% decline over the two weeks.
• Treasury yields continue to trade near four-year highs – the yield on 10-year issues fell 1bps (prices rose) to 2.90%.
• In FX markets, the dollar remained under pressure, falling 0.6% against a basket of peers, trading through the $1.25 level against the euro.

Europe

• European equity markets also had a positive session yesterday – the Euro Stoxx 50 index gained 0.6%, the French CAC index settled 1.1% higher while the stronger euro weighed on the German Dax index (+0.1%).
• Futures markets point to another strong open for European equities, with most indices indicated to open between 0.5% and 0.7% higher this morning.

Asia

• Asian equities followed the lead of their US and European counterparts overnight. Japanese equities gained 1.2%, with Telecoms and Utilities contributing the most gains.