US Markets Rally on US-China Trade War Truce; Dollar Down, Yuan Up

The equities rally followed a US-China trade deal at the G20 summit in Argentina calling for a 90-day trade tariff truce. Oil prices jumped nearly 4%.

“Today is mostly about celebrating the fact that the US and China have delayed what could have been the some of the worst-case scenarios regarding their trade relations,” said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Global Advisors.

A truce in the US-China trade war boosted global stocks to their highest in roughly three weeks on Monday, while triggering a dollar sell-off and pushing the Chinese yuan and several trade-dependent currencies higher.

Read More : US, China Reportedly Reach Agreement to Halt Additional Tariffs After January 1, Chinese State Television

Still, major US indexes closed below their highs from earlier in the session. Arone noted some “very sticky” issues remain unresolved between the world’s two top economies.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 287.97 points, or 1.13%, to 25,826.43, the S&P 500 gained 30.2 points, or 1.09%, to 2,790.37 and the Nasdaq Composite added 110.98 points, or 1.51%, to 7,441.51.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 1.03%.

US President Donald Trump said China has agreed to “reduce and remove” tariffs below the 40% level currently charged on US-made vehicles. That helped boost shares of European automakers more than 3%.

The White House also said the existing 10% tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods would be increased to 25% if no deal was reached within 90 days.

MSCI’s all-country world index climbed 0.25%, its sixth straight daily gain.

The US dollar fell broadly as currencies battered by trade tensions staged a comeback.

“The G20, the dinner in particular, has ignited quite a robust risk rally and that’s coming at the dollar’s expense,” said Joe Manimbo, senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions in Washington.

China’s offshore yuan gained about 1% to 6.8796. The Australian dollar, viewed as a barometer of Chinese growth, was 0.5% higher against the greenback.

The New Zealand dollar gained 0.6%, while the US dollar lost 0.6% against the Canadian dollar.

Read More: Fed Points to December rate hike but is worried about Tariffs and Debt

Sterling gave up early gains and dived to its lowest since the end of October as investors dumped the currency on growing concerns about British parliamentary approval for a Brexit deal.

“Until the British parliament votes on the deal next week we are going to see a steady drum beat of Brexit headlines, which is going to keep the pound weak,” Danske Bank strategist Morten Helt said. Lawmakers are to vote 11 December on Prime Minister Theresa May’s agreement on leaving the European Union.

US Treasury yields rose after the trade deal, but they reversed course as risk appetite faded and investors bought safe-haven US debt.

Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 13/32 in price to yield 2.9679%, from 3.013%.

The 30-year bond last rose 37/32 in price to yield 3.2511%, from 3.311%.

Germany’s 10-year government bond, the benchmark for the euro area, initially rose four basis points to 0.347% , then eased to 0.3%.

Yields on riskier southern European bonds were down across the board. Italian bond yields hit their lowest level in just over two months on reports that Rome was negotiating a lower budget deficit with the EU and on a new capital key from the European Central Bank.

Read More : JP Morgan has cut its outlook for oil, predicting that Brent crude prices will average $73 a barrel in 2019

US crude oil futures settled at $52.95 per barrel, up 3.97%. Brent crude futures settled at $61.69 per barrel, up 3.75%.

Oil prices got an extra boost as Canada’s Alberta province ordered a production cut, while OPEC and allied exporting countries looked set to reduce supply.

Spread the love

Neal Bhai has been involved in the Bullion and Metals markets since 1998 – he has experience in many areas of the market from researching to trading and has worked in Delhi, India. Mobile No. - 9899900589 and 9582247600

Leave a Comment