Covid-19 Daily Dashboard - 2 December 2020
An overview of key economic and financial metrics.
2 minutes to read
Download an overview of key economic and financial metrics relating to Covid-19 on 2 December 2020.
COVID-19 Vaccine: The UK has become the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine. Limited roll out is to begin next week.
Equities: In Europe, stocks are lower, with the FTSE 250 -0.5% down this morning, while the STOXX 600, DAX and CAC 40 have all recorded losses of -0.2%. In Asia, the Kospi added +1.6% on close, lifting the index’s year to date gains to +22%. The Topix (+0.3%) was the only other index to close higher, with the Hang Seng closing -0.1% down and the CSI 300 and S&P / ASX 200 both flat on close. In the US, futures for the S&P 500 are down -0.1%.
VIX: Following a +1.0% increase over yesterday, the CBOE market volatility index is up a further +0.8% this morning to 20.9, which is just above its long term average (LTA) of 19.9. Meanwhile, the Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index is also lower, down -0.4% to 21.2, below its LTA of 24.0.
Bonds: The US 10-year treasury yield has compressed -1bp to 0.92%, the highest it has been since early November, while the UK 10-year gilt yield and the German 10-year bund yield have both held steady at 0.35% and -0.52%.
Currency: The euro has appreciated to $1.21 and sterling is currently $1.34. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are 0.41% and 1.30% per annum on a five-year basis.
Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry decreased for the second consecutive session on Tuesday, down -1.3% to 1211. Year to date gains in the index are currently at +11%, following cumulative declines of -42% since 6th October. When compared to the peak of 1956 seen on 6th July, the index is down -38%.
Oil: Brent Crude and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) have both decreased -0.1% this morning to $47.38 and $44.51, respectively.
Gold: The price of gold has increased back above $1,800 per troy ounce following a +2.0% increase over yesterday to $1,814. The price of gold is now +19% above where it was at the start of the year, albeit -12% down compared to the record price achieved on 6th August of $2,063.