Covid-19 Daily Dashboard - 1 October 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 October 2020.

UK Lockdown: Tighter restrictions have been introduced in the Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. In these areas, members of different households are not permitted to meet in any indoor setting.

Equities: In Europe, stocks are higher this morning, with gains recorded by the CAC 40 (+0.7%), STOXX 600 (+0.5%),  FTSE 250 (+0.2%) and the DAX (+0.1%). In Asia, exchanges in Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea and Taipei were all closed for holidays, while Japan’s stock exchange suffered a technical glitch. In the US, futures for the S&P 500 are up +0.9%.

VIX: The CBOE market volatility index and the Euro Stoxx 50 vix have decreased -2.1% and -1.9% over the morning to 25.8 and 24.4, respectively. 

Bonds: The UK 10-year gilt yield has softened +2bps to 0.23%, while the US 10-year treasury yield is up +1bp to 0.70%. Meanwhile, the Italian 10-year bond yield has compressed -2bps to 0.85% and the German 10-year bund yield is steady at -0.52%.

Currency: Sterling has depreciated to $1.28, while the euro is currently $1.17. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are at 0.34% and 1.14% per annum on a five-year basis. 

Oil: The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) remains below $40 per barrel after declining -0.8% over the morning, to $39.91, while Brent Crude is currently up +2.6% at $42.00. 

Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry increased +4.0% yesterday to 1,725. The index is +58% higher than it was in January, albeit down -12% from the peak in July. 

Gold: The price of gold was $1,888 per troy ounce yesterday. Gold reached a record of $2,063 on 6th August and has since declined -9%, however the price of gold is +23% higher than it was at the start of January. 

US Election: Predictit, the online political futures market currently indicates a 41% likelihood of President Trump being re-elected in November, compared to a 45% probability last week and a 48% likelihood one month ago. The current probability of Joe Biden winning the election is 62%, up from 58% one week ago and 56% last month.