LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: FTSE 100 called higher after Fed decision

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open higher on Thursday, after Federal Reserve ...

Alliance News 1 August, 2024 | 5:56AM
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(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open higher on Thursday, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell put a September US interest rate cut on the table.

Powell said the central bank's "confidence is growing because we are seeing good data".

"We think the time is approaching....and a rate cut could be on the table at the September meeting," Powell said.

IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open 28.3 points higher, 0.3%, at 8,396.28 on Thursday. The index of London large-caps surged 93.57 points, 1.1%, at 8,367.98 on Wednesday.

In New York on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 0.2%, the S&P 500 rose 1.6% and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.6%.

At the conclusion of its two-day meeting, the US central bank voted to maintain the federal funds rate range at 5.25% to 5.50%. The vote was unanimous. The federal funds rate has been at that level since July 2023, when the Fed last hiked rates, which took the range to its highest level in more than two decades.

"A September cut will be data dependent, particularly with another two inflation readings between now and then, but as it stands it seems it would take a fairly drastic reading for the Fed not to move ahead at its next meeting," Quilter analyst Lindsay James commented.

Against the dollar, the pound climbed to USD1.2849 early on Thursday in London, from USD1.2844 on Wednesday. The euro traded at USD1.0828, largely unmoved from USD1.0826. Versus the yen, the dollar slipped to JPY149.96 from JPY150.36.

Stocks in Asia were largely higher, though the Nikkei 225 struggled amid the stronger yen, trading down 2.6%. Shortly before the closing bell in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5%. In China, the Shanghai Composite traded up 0.1%. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong was up 0.2%.

Completing a central banking hat-trick, the Bank of England announces a rate call at 1200 BST. A press conference with Governor Andrew Bailey follows.

Dutch bank ING expects to see a 25 basis point cut to bank rate to 5.00% from 5.25%.

"We know that this week's decision will hinge on a handful of committee members who felt the June decision was "finely balanced". We've heard very little from officials since the general election was called in June, and that means it's tricky to gauge how they are interpreting the recent upside news on services inflation. This metric has come in well above the BoE's most recent forecasts, but a lot of this looks like noise," ING analysts said.

A barrel of Brent rose to USD81.45 early Thursday, from USD80.37 at the time of the London equities close on Wednesday. Gold traded at USD2,445.59 an ounce, up from USD2,423.09

Thursday's UK corporate calendar is packed with earnings from FTSE 100 heavyweights, including defence firm BAE Systems, banking group Barclays and oil major Shell.

The economic calendar has a slew of purchasing managers' index readings, including the eurozone at 0900 BST, the UK at 0930 BST and the US at 1445 BST.

By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

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