• World
  • Columnist
  • Commodities
  • WORLD BUSINESS & ECONOMY
  • Executive Knowledge Series
  • Finance
  • Manufacturing
  • Markets
  • Risk & Governance
  • Small Business
  • Technology, Media & Innovation
  • Comments
  • Business AM WebTV
  • Login

Businessamlive
  • FRONTPAGE
  • FINANCE
    • AllAsset ManagementAuditBankingBondBudgetCapital MarketsC&I LeasingCurrencyDealDebt marketForexFund RaisingFundingGovernmentHedge FundsInsuranceInvestmentInvestorInvestor ServicesMergers & AcquistionsMoney marketTreasury BillsMortgagePensionsPersonal financePonziQuantitative EasingshareTaxationTSAWealth Management
      Finance

      CBN says cryptocurrency ban in interest of Nigerians

      11 hrs

      Companies-in-Action

      Zenith Bank in strong operational performance as profit rises 10.4% to N230.56bn in FY20

      11 hrs

      Companies

      United Capital posts strong numbers as earnings rise 50% to N12.87bn in 2020

      February 23, 2021

      Finance

      CIBN revives mentorship initiative for bank workers

      February 20, 2021

  • MARKETS
  • ECONOMY
    • AllAfricaAgricAirportsAmericaAsiaAustraliaBreakthroughDealEuropeForeign InvestmentsforexGlobal marketGovernanceIMFMiddle EastNECANigeriaOutlookRich listSouth AfricaSport BusinessTradeU.KWest AfricaWorld Economic forum
      Insurance Business

      Enterprise risk management surges amid pandemic, RIMS reports

      10 hrs

      WORLD BUSINESS & ECONOMY

      Hyundai to recall 82,000 electric cars over battery malfunction

      11 hrs

      Frontpage

      Global health insurance premiums fall amid pandemic, says new report

      February 24, 2021

      Frontpage

      Insurance M&A record highest growth in Africa, Middle East in 2020

      February 23, 2021

  • COMMODITIES
  • ENERGY
    • AllConferenceElectricityOil and GasPowerRenewable
      Oil and Gas

      OPL 310: LEKOIL engages Optimum Petroleum over CRSA agreement

      4 hrs

      Frontpage

      Nigeria still losing 200,000bpd crude daily as NNPC enlists army’s intervention

      10 hrs

      Frontpage

      Nigeria to sell 170MW electricity capacity to Togo from Calabar plant

      February 24, 2021

      Oil and Gas

      NCDMB extends ‘transitional’ equity to Waltersmith’s expanded refinery

      February 19, 2021

  • TECHNOLOGY
  • MANUFACTURING
  • ANALYSIS
    • Analyst Insight

      Coronation MB analysts project sharp rates rise after Nigeria recession exit

      10 hrs

      Analyst Insight

      How NITDA can further foster data protection compliance in Nigeria

      February 22, 2021

      Analyst Insight

      Do we need more start-ups in insurance?

      February 16, 2021

      Analyst Insight

      Naira, PMI’s and Inflation in focus

      February 16, 2021

Analyst Insight

Bye-bye frenzy, back to the familiar

February 8, 2021257 views0 comments

By Han Tan, Market Analyst at FXTM

 

Global markets are now revisiting a familiar script, with investors pushing broad asset classes higher on more signs pointing to the US economic recovery.

Stock markets Stateside posted new record highs and the futures contracts are holding steady at the time of writing. The S&P 500 is boasting a year-to-date gain once more, led by energy and financial stocks last week. Tech companies remain favoured by investors amidst a string of better-than-expected earnings, pushing the Nasdaq 100 to its highest-ever close.

Oil prices are also getting in on the act, with WTI futures set for a fifth consecutive daily gain to reach its best levels in over a year. This return to the way things were is also marked by signs of subdued day-trader mania, with GameStop having plummeted almost 90 per cent from its 2021 peak amid the WallStreetBets-fueled frenzy. However, the stock is still showing gains of 184 per cent so far this year.

Stronger jobs recovery to set base for more gains in risk-asset

Risk sentiment has been buoyed by Thursday’s lower-than-expected US jobless claims data, which marked its third weekly decline and lowest reading since late November.

This positive surprise has already prompted economists to make upward revisions to their forecasts for the January non-farm payrolls data due later today(friday). Markets are expecting the headline print to increase by around 105,000 jobs, which would be an about-turn from the 140,000 positions lost in December.

But, the unemployment rate is set to remain unchanged at 6.7 per cent, which is still some three percentage points higher compared to pre-pandemic levels. This elevated figure still underscores the need for more government support, even though President Biden’s $1.9 trillion proposal risks being diluted if we see evidence today [Friday] that the job market recovery is truly underway.

With more states easing their respective virus-curbing measures as the Covid-19 vaccine continues to make its way through the US population, the labour market may find itself on firmer ground in the weeks and months ahead. On top of that, economic conditions are expected to be restored at a faster clip once more fiscal stimulus is unleashed upon households and businesses.

Such a risk-on narrative is what’s prompting market participants to push risk assets higher and this momentum in the markets could gain more impetus with a better-than-expected NFP print.

Gold declines on Dollar resilience

However, the US dollar and gold are apparently not singing the same tune as the rest of the choir.

The greenback has defied consensus calls for weakness this year, which in turn has sent bullion to its lowest levels since early December. The precious metal has also struggled against the steepening US yield curve. The idea that the US economic recovery would lead to faster inflationary pressures has not played out in gold’s favour, to the chagrin of the precious metal’s bulls.

With spot prices now trying to claw their way back to the psychologically important $1800 level, gold is set to have a battle on its hands over the near-term in trying to get on the market’s good side. A technical death cross, when the 50-day moving average crosses below the 200-day moving average, looks imminent which indicates the potential for a major selloff.

Share on Facebook Tweet Email
PreviousNigeria: Monetary policy still on a lead
NextBusiness, entrepreneurship in the beautiful art of ceramic

Leave a comment

- Cancel reply

MARKET DATA

Market Videos

Recent Posts

  • Nigeria records 6% drop in vessel traffic
  • Share illiquidity forcing Ellah Lakes’ majority owners to sell down 25%
  • Nigerian stock-fish dealers want access to foreign exchange
  • OPL 310: LEKOIL engages Optimum Petroleum over CRSA agreement
  • Coronation MB analysts project sharp rates rise after Nigeria recession exit

World

Africa

Buhari, Okonjo-Iweala congratulate Adesina over reelection as AfDB President

Europe

EU businesses to cut investments in 2020, says EIB report

America

U.S. increases cost of visa application for Nigerians

Africa

Thatcher-Loving Nigeria Candidate Plans to Overhaul Economy

Africa

AfDB scales up industrialization pace on the continent, delivers improved business access to finance, skills, energy

Frontpage posts

0

Economist calls for creation of ministry for SMEs to boost economy

entrepreneurship December 4, 2019

1
2

A stock and a hard place: SoftBank’s $150 billion Alibaba warchest in public eye

Deal February 12, 2020

3

Discos reject 90% power allocation during rains –TCN

Frontpage September 12, 2019

4

Govs challenge FG over utilisation of recovered loots

Frontpage May 15, 2020

5

Foreign reserves gained $2.7bn in one month –CBN

Frontpage June 3, 2020

SUPPORT

  • Photo Gallery
  • Help Centre
  • About Us
  • Accessibility

LEGAL & PRIVACY

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Copyright

SERVICES

  • Conferences & Events
  • Analysts Research
  • Advertising Rate
  • Ebooks

TOOLS

  • Portfolio
  • Newsletters
  • News feed
  • Currency Converter

SUBSCRIBE

Join us to get latest updates on business related news.

[mc4wp_form id="3076"]
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • CAREERS
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. BusinessAMLive. A Businessnewscorp Member Company.