Covid-19 Daily Dashboard – 26 August 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 26 August 2020.
Equities: In Europe, the STOXX 600 is up +0.5%, driven by the DAX (+0.6%), followed by the CAC 40 (+0.4%) and the FTSE 250 (+0.3%). In the US, futures for the S&P 500 are stable (+0.1%), ahead of tomorrow’s Federal Reserve summit, where chairman Jay Powell is expected to provide an update on the economic recovery in the US. The markets performance in Asia was mixed, with the Kospi, TOPIX and the Hang Seng stable, while the S&P / ASX 200 and the CSI 300 declined by -0.7% and -1.2% respectively.
VIX: The CBOE market volatility index remained flat at 22.05 so far this morning, while the Euro Stoxx 50 volatility price index has increased +1.1% to 23.36, just above its long term average of 23.3.
Bonds: The US 10-year treasury yield have softened +2bps to 0.7% so far today, equivalent to +7bps rise since the end of last week. The UK 10-year gilt yield was up +1bps to 0.28% while the German 10-year bund yield remained stable at -0.42%.
Currency: Sterling and the euro are currently at $1.32 and $1.18. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are 0.27% and 1.11% per annum on a five-year basis.
Oil: Brent Crude is up 1.1% to $46.35 per barrel, the highest level since early March. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) remained stable so far this morning at $43.37 per barrel.
Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry index gained a further +1.8% yesterday to 1,518, +39% above where it was in January.
Gold: The price of gold is up +0.2% to $1,928 per troy ounce, which is -6.6% lower than the record high reached earlier this month.
Germany: The German Government has announced an extension of support measures such as short-term work subsidies and financial help to the end of 2021. The original end date was March of next year and the nine month extension is estimated to cost up to €10bn.