Asia
China’s stock markets ended a turbulent weak with another lower finish, with the Shenzhen Component Index the worst performing in percentage terms. The CSI 300 lost nearly 2% to 3,315 points, its lowest level since the autumn of 2016. The Chinese yuan is hovering close to 7 against the dollar, near a 10-year low, after an eight successive week of falls for the currency against the US dollar. After manufacturing data disappointing earlier in the week, today’s services PMI also came in lower than expected – but the sector still expanded in July.
Europe
The Bank of England’s decision to raise interest rates to 0.75% was not a shock to the markets but the after-effects are still being felt. The Governor, Mark Carney, caused the pound to weaken to below 1.30 against the dollar when he spoke of the increase likelihood to a no-deal Brexit. One of the arguments for a rate rise is that it gives the Bank room to cut in the event that Brexit provides a shock to the UK economy.
The pound had been gaining strength against the dollar since early summer in anticipation of an August rate rise – but these gains have mostly been erased. Likewise against the euro, a brief spike by sterling yesterday was shortlived. Weaker-than-expected services sector data for July – undermining the argument that World Cup fever and a prolonged heatwave has been an unqualified success for bars, restaurants and other consumer-facing sectors.
What’s bad for the UK currency is currently good for stocks, however. The FTSE 100, like many global markets, has had a bruising week. The blue-chip index clawed back above 7,600, helped by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) announcing a return to dividend payouts after 10 years in the wilderness.
North America
Apple (AAPL)’s ascent to the to become the world’s first trillion dollar company has been long in coming – we wrote about its record profits in February – but the event is still a milestone in the history of FAANG stocks, which have just finished their recent earnings season. No doubt investors will only remember two aspects of this season: Facebook’s (FB) share price slump and Apple’s $1 trillion valuation. But results from Amazon (AMZN) have been equally noteworthy, while Google parent company Alphabet (GOOGL) also marches on.
The Nasdaq has recovered some ground this week after last week’s tribulations, posting a gain of over 1% last night.
Berkshire Hathaway reports today (BRKb).
With the Federal Reserve meeting out of the way, the start of the month brings another flagship event for US economics: the release of non-farm payroll numbers.