Stocks Rally as China Eases Travel Restrictions: Markets Wrap

Global stocks advanced, with France’s equity benchmark jumping 1%, after China lifted travel curbs.

(Bloomberg) — Global stocks advanced, with France’s equity benchmark jumping 1%, after China lifted travel curbs. 

European travel and luxury companies led gains in the Stoxx 600 Index on speculation that companies will benefit an increase in Chinese tourism spending. The mood in markets was positive ahead of the key US inflation data, which may provide clues on the Federal Reserve’s next steps. The dollar weakened and S&P 500 futures added 0.6%. 

Treasuries were steady, with the 10-year yield holding just above 4%. The last big US bond sale of the week will take place later with the sale of 30-year notes. Despite all the concerns recently that the auctions would face investor resistance, demand for the debt has so far been strong.

Read More: LVMH Leads $22 Billion Luxury Rally as China Eases Travel Curbs

The US reading on consumer prices will be critical for investors trying to determine whether the Fed will stop raising interest rates. 

The report is expected to show a second straight reading for so-called core inflation that is consistent with the Fed’s 2% target on an annualized basis, according to a preview from Bloomberg Economics. The consumer price index, excluding food and energy, probably rose 0.2% last month, following a similar increase in June, they said. 

“A higher-than-expected number would produce some short-term equity and bond volatility,” said Andrew Bell, chief executive officer at Witan Investment Trust. “But I doubt it would change expectations for the peak in Fed rates as there is a weight of evidence pointing to the economy disinflating.” 

Among individual stocks in Europe, luxury was the standout. LVMH and Hermes International added 2%. 

China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism said it would lift a group travel ban to countries including the US, UK, Australia, South Korea and Japan. Buyers from China account for about 25% of European luxury-goods sales, including purchases made by tourists, according to latest estimates from Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

In the US, Walt Disney Co. shares rose 1.3% in premarket trading after saying capital spending and outlays for movies and TV shows are coming in lower than projected. 

Key events this week:

  • US initial jobless claims, CPI, Thursday
  • Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic pre-recorded remarks for employment webinar, Thursday
  • UK industrial production, GDP, Friday
  • US University of Michigan consumer sentiment, PPI, Friday

Some of the main moves in markets:

Stocks

  • The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.5% as of 10:18 a.m. London time
  • S&P 500 futures rose 0.4%
  • Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.5%
  • Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4%
  • The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.2%
  • The MSCI Emerging Markets Index was little changed

Currencies

  • The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.2%
  • The euro rose 0.4% to $1.1023
  • The Japanese yen was little changed at 143.83 per dollar
  • The offshore yuan rose 0.1% to 7.2200 per dollar
  • The British pound rose 0.3% to $1.2759

Cryptocurrencies

  • Bitcoin was little changed at $29,479.21
  • Ether was little changed at $1,849.92

Bonds

  • The yield on 10-year Treasuries was little changed at 4.01%
  • Germany’s 10-year yield advanced three basis points to 2.53%
  • Britain’s 10-year yield advanced two basis points to 4.38%

Commodities

  • Brent crude rose 0.2% to $87.69 a barrel
  • Spot gold rose 0.3% to $1,919.76 an ounce

This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.

 

–With assistance from Denitsa Tsekova and Richard Henderson.

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