Stock markets firmer on lockdown easing hopes

Paris, France | AFP | Global stock markets were firmer Monday, buoyed by the prospect of further easing of coronavirus lockdowns despite sharp increases in case rates in some countries such as Brazil.

On the downside, an upsurge in Sino-US tensions, especially over Chinese plans to introduce a national security law in Hong Kong, made for some caution.

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump imposed travel limits on Brazil, now the second worst affected country after the United States, reminding markets that while the coronavirus outlook is better, the crisis is far from over.

Japan meanwhile lifted a state of emergency in Tokyo, while Spain and Italy are preparing to reopen their borders to kickstart their crucial tourism sectors.

Greece, Germany and the Czech Republic are also on course to allow bars and restaurants to resume service, while primary schools in parts of England are due to restart from next month.

“Global investors are continuing to map the reopening of global economies to the overall risk narrative,” said Stephen Innes of AxiCorp.

“The global stock markets are moving higher with positive changes in mobility data. According to recent mobility data, the global economy has taken a giant step toward normality in the last week.”

In European midday trade Monday, Paris was up about 1.1 percent and Frankfurt 1.67 percent, helped by a more positive German business confidence report for May compared with a disastrous showing in April.

Public holidays in Britain and the US meant trade was relatively low key however.

In Asia, Tokyo ended 1.7 percent higher, Sydney added more than two percent, Shanghai put on 0.2 percent and Hong Kong, after a morning drop, edged up 0.1 percent, after losses of more than five percent Friday and despite violent weekend protests at China’s plan to impose a security law that would effectively suppress the former British colony’s pro-democracy movement.

– Sino-US ‘Cold War’ –

The move has also raised concern about Hong Kong’s future as a financial hub, with the US already passing a bill that would strip the city’s preferential trading status if it no longer enjoys autonomy from mainland China.

“One big threat to the recovery in markets is the escalating war of words between the US and China,” said Shane Oliver at AMP Capital Investors.

But he added: “The main focus will likely remain on continuing evidence that the number of new COVID-19 cases is slowing in developed countries, progress towards medical solutions, the reopening of economies and signs that economic activity is picking up.”

While analysts expect Trump to continue his attacks on China heading into November’s presidential election, they say he is unlikely to take action that threatens the trade detente with Beijing.

Oil prices bounced back from an early sell-off, winning support from the easing of lockdowns and huge output cuts by key producers.

– Key figures at around 1000 GMT –

Paris – CAC 40: 4,494.63, UP 1.1 percent

Frankfurt- DAX: 11,259.76, UP 1.7 percent

London – FTSE 100: Closed for public holiday

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.7 percent at 20,741.65 (close)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 0.1 percent at 22,952.24 (close)

Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 2,817.97 (close)

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.4 percent at $33.42 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.2 percent at $35.06 per barrel

Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.0900 from $1.0904 at 2100 GMT Friday

Dollar/yen: UP at 107.74 yen from 107.56 yen

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2187 from $1.2167

Euro/pound: DOWN at 89.45 pence from 89.60 pence

New York – Dow: FLAT at 24,466.16 (Friday close)

— Bloomberg News contributed to this story —