ECONOMICS

Daily Economics Dashboard - 12 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 12 April 2021.

  • Lockdown: From today, all non-essential retail in England and Wales is to re-open. Gyms, Zoos and hairdressers can resume trading, while pubs and restaurants are permitted to serve customers outside. In Scotland and Wales, pupils are returning to school full time, while the national stay at home order in Northern Ireland is ending.
  • Equities: In Europe, stocks are mixed. Both the FTSE 250 and STOXX 600 are -0.3% lower, meanwhile the DAX (+0.1%) is up slightly and the CAC 40 is flat. In Asia, the CSI 300 (-1.7%), Hang Seng (-1.1%), S&P / ASX 200 (-0.3%) and TOPIX (-0.2%) were all lower on close. The KOSPI was the exception, closing +0.1% higher. In the US, futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are both -0.2%.
  • VIX: After declining -2% over Friday, the CBOE market volatility index has since increased this morning, up +4.6% to 17.5, albeit remaining below its long term average of 19.9. The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index is also higher, up +6.2% to 17.2, remaining comfortably below its long term average of 23.9.
  • Bonds: The German 10-year bund yield has compressed -2bps to -0.32%, while the UK 10-year gilt yield and US 10-year treasury yield have both held steady over the morning at 0.78% and 1.66%, respectively.
  • UK Gilts: According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Bank of England currently holds circa £741bn or a 30% share of government debt, surpassing the two largest groups of private lenders to the British government, overseas investors, and insurance companies and pension funds.
  • 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 0.57% and 1.75% on a five year basis.
  • Oil: Brent Crude and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are up +0.3% and +0.2% to $63.17 and $59.45.
  • Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry decreased for the second consecutive session on Friday, down -0.1% to 2,085. However, over the week, the index increased +0.6%, its first weekly increase in three weeks. Prices were pushed higher by capesize rates, which added +20.4% over the week, its best weekly increase since 5th March. While the index remains -10% below the March peak of 2,319, it is currently +53% above the figure recorded in January.