Covid-19 Daily Dashboard – 1 September 2020
An overview of key economic and financial metrics.
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Download an overview of key economic and financial metrics relating to Covid-19 on 1 September 2020.
Equities: In Europe, the STOXX 600 is up +0.3%, driven by the DAX (+0.7%) and the CAC 40 (+0.2%), while the FTSE 250 is down -0.8%. In the US, after increasing 7% in August, the S&P 500 is up a further +0.4% this morning to 3,512 points. In Asia, the Kospi was the best performing index (+1.0%), followed by the CSI 300 (+0.5%) and the Hang Seng (+0.1%). On the other hand, the S&P / ASX 200 and the TOPIX declined by -1.8% and -0.1% respectively.
VIX: The CBOE market volatility index, also known as the ‘investor fear gauge’, is down -2.6% to 25.7. In Europe, the Euro Stoxx 50 volatility price index is currently at 26.1, down -0.6% but above the long term average of 23.3.
Bonds: The US and UK 10-year bond yields have both softened +2bp to 0.72% and 0.33% respectively. The German 10-year bund yield is up +1bps to -0.39%.
Currency: Both sterling and the euro have appreciated to $1.35 and $1.20 respectively. Both currencies are at year to date highs against the dollar. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are 0.24% and 1.11% per annum on a five-year basis.
Oil: Brent Crude is trading up +1.2% to $45.8 per barrel, remaining close to the six-month high of $46. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also increased by +1.2% to $43.1 per barrel.
Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry lost -1.1% on Friday, declining to 1,488, albeit +37% above where it was in January.
China PMI: The official Chinese Manufacturing PMI stood at 51.0 in August 2020, broadly unchanged from the month prior (51.1) and in line with market expectations. The data marks the sixth straight month of expansion in factory activity as the Chinese economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.