Covid-19 Daily Dashboard - 29 October 2020

An overview of key economic and financial metrics.
Written By:
Victoria Ormond, Knight Frank
2 minutes to read

Download an overview of key economic and financial metrics relating to Covid-19 on 29 October 2020.


COVID-19: The total number of cases recorded globally is circa 44.5 million, with 1.17 million reported deaths according to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine.
Lockdown: In France, a national lockdown is being reinstated, with people only allowed to leave their homes for essential work or medical reasons. Schools will remain open, however, children aged 6 onwards will be required to wear a mask. In Germany, tighter nationwide restrictions will come into effect on Monday, with restaurants, bars, gyms and theatres closing.
Equities: In Europe stocks are higher, with the DAX (+0.7%), STOXX 600 (+0.5%), CAC 40 (+0.4%) and the FTSE 250 (+0.3%) all recording gains over the morning. In Asia, stocks were mostly down, with the S&P / ASX 200 (-1.6%), Kospi (-0.8%), Hang Seng (-0.5%) and the Topix (-0.1%) all lower on close. However, the CSI 300 was the exception, closing +0.8% higher. In the US, futures for the S&P 500 are up +0.8%.
VIX: After increasing +20.8% over yesterday, the CBOE market volatility index has declined -3.3% this morning to 38.9. The Euro Stoxx50 volatility index is also down this morning, decreasing -1.0% to 37.9. This is the highest both indices have been since June, with both indexes elevated compared to their long term averages of 19.9 and 24.0.
Bonds: The US 10-year treasury yield has softened +1bp to 0.78%, while the UK 10-year gilt yield and the German 10-year bund yield remain steady at 0.22% and -0.63%.
Currency: The euro has depreciated to $1.17, while sterling is currently $1.30. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are at 0.41% and 1.25% per annum on a five-year basis.
Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry decreased -2.1% yesterday to 1,384. Over the last 17 sessions, the index has seen cumulative declines of -34%, albeit the Baltic Dry is +27% higher than it was at the beginning of the year.
Oil: Both Brent Crude and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are below $40 per barrel this morning, with both at their lowest prices since June, after declining -1.9% and -3.4% to $38.38 and $36.12, respectively.
Gold: Gold was priced at $1,878 per troy ounce on Wednesday, a -1.5% decline on the day prior.