EU Market
Asian share markets slumped on Thursday and European stocks were poised for a lower open after Federal Reserve meeting minutes pointed to a faster-than-expected rise in U.S. interest rates due to concerns about persistent inflation.
U.S. equity-index futures gained on Wednesday along with stocks in Europe as traders assessed the latest news on the omicron variant and the Federal Reserve’s signals of stepped-up efforts to curb elevated inflation. Bonds declined.
Fresh concerns about the efficacy of existing vaccines against the omicron coronavirus strain pushed markets back into risk-off mode on Tuesday, with stocks in Europe dropping alongside U.S. equity futures. Bonds gained as investors sought havens.
U.S. and European equity futures climbed Monday along with crude oil and Treasury yields as investors tried to calibrate economic risks from the omicron coronavirus strain, bringing some calm back to markets.
U.S. futures fell and Asian stocks were mixed Tuesday amid a jump in Treasury yields and the dollar as Jerome Powell’s renomination to head the Federal Reserve fueled bets on a quicker reduction of monetary stimulus.
Stocks rose along with U.S. equity futures Friday, bringing some relief for shares from the inflation fears still roiling Treasuries.
MSCI Inc.’s Asia-Pacific gauge posted its biggest rise this week, helped by Japan’s bourse and China’s technology stocks. The view that the worst of Beijing’s regulatory blitz has passed salved sentiment. U.S. and European contracts climbed after the S&P 500 snapped a two-day fall.
U.S. futures fell Friday along with European stocks as traders weighed bond-market gyrations sparked by concerns over inflation and monetary tightening.
