ECONOMICS

Daily Economics Dashboard - 9 April 2021

An overview of key economic and financial metrics.
Written By:
William Matthews, Knight Frank
2 minutes to read
Categories: Property Sector Offices service Consultancy Topic Covid-19 Economics World Regions UK London


Download an overview of key economic and financial metrics on 9 April 2021.

  • Equities: Globally, stocks are mixed. In Europe, the CAC 40 (+0.2%) and STOXX 600 (+0.1%) are up slightly this morning, while the FTSE 250 and the DAX are flat. Meanwhile in Asia, the CSI 300 (-1.5%), Hang Seng (-1.2%), KOSPI (-0.4%) and S&P / ASX 200 (-0.1%) were all lower on close. The TOPIX was the exception, closing +0.4% higher. In the US, futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are up +0.1% and +0.2%.
  • VIX: After declining -1% over Thursday, the CBOE market volatility index has since slightly increased this morning, up +0.4% to 17.0, below its long term average of 19.9. Meanwhile, the Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index is unchanged at 16.1, remaining comfortably below its long term average of 23.9.
  • Bonds: The US 10-year treasury yield has softened +4bps to 1.67%, while the UK 10-year gilt yield is up +3bps to 0.78% and the German 10-year bund yield is +2bps higher at -0.31%.
  • Currency: Sterling and the euro are currently $1.37 and $1.19, respectively. Currency hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and Eurozone remain at 0.58% and 1.77% on a five year basis.
  • Oil: Brent Crude and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are down -0.7% and -0.4% to $62.77 and $59.36, respectively.
  • Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry decreased for the first time this month on Thursday, down -1.8% to 2,088. While this reading remains -10% below the March peak of 2,319, it is +53% above the figure recorded in January. Despite capesize rates increasing +1.8% to their highest level in two months yesterday, prices were pushed lower by panamax rates which declined for the 11th consecutive session, down -8.4% to a one month low.
  • US Unemployment: There were 744k new unemployment applications in the week to 3rd April, above market expectations of 680k and higher than 728k in the week prior. While this is the second consecutive weekly increase in jobless claims, claims remain below the 800k level for the seventh consecutive period.
  • German Industrial Production: German industrial production declined -1.6% over the month of February, lower than forecasts of a +1.5% increase, albeit an improvement from January’s -2.0% contraction.