Covid-19 Daily Dashboard – 19 August 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 19 August 2020.
Equities: In Europe, the STOXX 600, DAX and CAC 40 are all up +0.2% over the morning, while the FTSE 250 is down -0.3%. In the US, the S&P 500 closed at a record high yesterday and is currently up +5% over the year to date. In Asia, the S&P / ASX 200 (+0.7%), the Kospi (+0.5%) and the Topix (+0.2%) all closed higher, while the Hang Seng (-0.7%) and the CSI 300 (-1.5%) closed lower.
VIX: The CBOE market volatility index and the Euro Stoxx 50 volatility price index have both increased over the morning, up +0.4% and +2.2% to 21.6 and 23.3, respectively. The European investor fear gauge remains below the long term average (LTA) of 23.9, while the US VIX is elevated compared to its LTA of 19.9.
Bonds: The US 10-year treasury yield and the UK 10-year gilt yield have both compressed -2bps to 0.65% and 0.20%, while the German 10-year bund yield has declined -3bps to -0.48%.
Currency: Sterling and the euro remain steady at $1.32 and $1.19, respectively. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are 0.28% and 1.10% per annum on a five-year basis.
Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry index decreased for the first time in 15 sessions yesterday, down -0.8% to 1,586. However, the index is +46% above where it was in January.
Oil: Brent Crude and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are currently $45.12 and $42.81 per barrel.
Gold: The price of gold appreciated +1.0% yesterday to back above $2,000 at $2,004 per troy ounce, albeit this is still -3% below the record high of $2,063 reached on 6th August.
UK Inflation: The inflation rate has increased from 0.6% year-on-year in June, to 1.0% in July, above market expectations of 0.6%. However, inflation remains well below the Bank of England's 2% target. The largest contribution to this was from the recreation and culture sector, with rising prices at the petrol pump, as well as price increases for clothing, furniture and household goods. Prices in July were offset by the declining cost of food.
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