Covid-19 Daily Dashboard - 25 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 25 September 2020.
Equities: In Europe, equities are mostly lower, with declines recorded this morning by the CAC 40 (-1.0%), the DAX (-0.9%) and the STOXX 600 (-0.3%). However, the FTSE 250 has seen gains of +0.3%. In Asia, the S&P / ASX 200 (+1.5%), Topix (+0.5%), Kospi (+0.3%) and the CSI 300 (+0.2%) all closed higher. Whereas, the Hang Seng was -0.3% lower on close. In the US, futures for the S&P 500 are down -0.1%.
VIX: The CBOE market volatility index is up +2.1% this morning to 29.1 and the Euro Stoxx 50 vix has increased +2.0% to 28.9. Both indices remain elevated compared to their long term averages of 19.8 and 23.9.
Bonds: The UK 10-year gilt yield, German 10-year bund yield and the Italian 10-year bond yield have all compressed -2bps to 0.19%, -0.52% and 0.86%. Meanwhile, the US 10-year treasury yield is flat at 0.66%.
Currency: The euro has appreciated to $1.17 and sterling is currently $1.28. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone remains at 0.33% and 1.11% per annum on a five-year basis.
Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry increased for the sixth consecutive session yesterday, up +12.6% to 1,605. This is the highest the index has been in over two months and the index’s largest daily increase since June. Yesterday’s rise was predominantly driven by a +22.8% increase in capesize rates, reflecting greater demand of iron ore shipments out of Brazil and Australia, according to Reuters.
Gold: Gold was stable yesterday at $1,865 per troy ounce. While this remains +22% higher than it was at the start of January, the price of gold is -10% lower than the record price reached on 6th August.
US Unemployment: There were 870k new unemployment applications in the week to 19th September, above expectations of 840k and higher than the previous week’s reading of 866k.
UK Debt: The UK government borrowed £35.9bn in August, below market expectations of £38bn, but £30.5bn higher than the same month one year ago. Public sector net debt excluding public sector banks (PSND ex) at the end of August was just over £2tn, £249.5bn more than the same point last year. PSND ex now equates to circa 101.9% of GDP.