Asia
China stocks defied the odds with a rise at the end of an uncertain week. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 1% to move above 2,800 points, to end the trading week higher – and indeed the month of September, which has seen the war of words over trade between the US and China escalate. Still, the index is down about 600 points since the start of the year.
China markets are closed for next week for national day public holidays.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose over 300 points to move back above 24,000 points as the yen lost ground against the dollar, which traded above 113.5 yen – the highest level since December 2017.
Europe
Italy’s political and economic woes dominated the financial headlines. The FTSE MIB index slid 3% to below 21,000 points and the 10-year bond yield jumped 30 basis points to 3.18% as traders digested the latest budget put forward by the coalition government.
European markets were under pressure as a result despite positive headwinds from the US and then Asia.
The FTSE 100 remained above 7,500 points despite a slight fall on the day and a 9% fall in insurer RSA (RSA). “Our UK and 'London market' business reported an underwriting loss which is disappointing,” said RSA chief executive Stephen Hester, formerly of Royal Bank of Scotland.
North America
Once again, everyone is talking about Tesla (TSLA) founder Elon Musk, who yesterday was accused of securities fraud by the US regulator the SEC. Tesla shares fell yesterday and are off nearly 12% pre-market as the market anticipates another fall in the carmaker’s shares. Morningstar analysts are holding their fair value estimate of $179 per share for the time being – against the current price above $300 – but they are contemplating a post-Musk future for Tesla.
At the end of a very full week for economic data, Personal Consumption Expenditure figures for August are due, as well as the final reading for the University of Michigan sentiment index. Canada GDP is also in focus for July.