Gearing Up For COVID-19 Vaccine
While the entire world awaits the COVID-19 vaccine’s final trial’s results, investors consider buying battered stocks from the coronavirus that could benefit from the confidence boost when the vaccine becomes available.
With plenty of liquidity and more certainty, the market has flipped to the risk-on mode and the risk appetite may increase further if we get positive news about the coronavirus vaccine.
AstraZeneca expects that the vaccine will be available by the end of 2020 at the earliest, while the production has started already in Australia even before the last stage of approval. The company takes the gamble to start rolling out the vaccine as soon as it becomes approved. On the other hand, Pfizer could apply for the vaccine’s license at the start of next month.
Equities Benefit from Biden’s Optimism
Last week, most global stock markets closed in the green thanks to Biden's performance in the US elections that provided clarity for investors.
On Saturday, Joe Biden beat Trump and was announced the US President-elect. Markets cheered this news as the new administration will be more flexible to work swiftly on the long-awaited stimulus package.
Biden’s victory was priced in the markets and major US indices opened this week with upward gaps between 1.0% - 2.0%. Markets also considered a possible split of the US congress (a Democratic House with a Republican Senate) If this were confirmed, Biden will not be able to raise corporate taxes from 21% to 28% nor increase regulations.
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Change % | |
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+0.1% | |
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+0.02% | |
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+0.1% | |
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+0.7% | |
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-0.1% | |
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+0.3% | |
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-0.01% |
EUR/USD and Main FX Markets
The market’s risk-on sentiment weighed on the greenback and pressed the US Dollar index on Monday to its lowest level in near ten weeks at 92.10. That said, the price outlook remains neutral while above 91.72.
The EUR/USD rebounded around 1.1600 last week and rallied eying a test of the high end of the current trading zone at 1.1909. Nonetheless, the pair’s outlook remains neutral while below 1.1909.
The GBP/USD investors are still waiting for EU-UK trade deal updates therefore, the pair consolidates in a narrow trading zone 1.2916- 1.3184. It is worth noting that any trade deal requires parliament approval from both sides hence a trade deal is expected by November 15.
Gold and Oil
The crude price benefited from lower US dollar prices and opened this week with an upward gap. The Brent Crude closed above $39.60 hinting at to rally towards 41.70 thus, a close above this level could send the price even higher towards 43.58.
The Gold price overtook the 50-day SMA last week and closed above $1,921 reflecting a shift in the bull's favor. The market could rally towards the August 18 high at $2,015 contingent on clearing the September 1 high at 1,992.
Looking Ahead
Markets expect the ECB president Lagarde’s speech at 10:25 AM (GMT), the BoE governor Bailey’s speech at 11:35 AM, the ECB Member Mersch’s speech at 1:00 then-Fed members Mester’s and Harker’s speeches at 7:30 PM, 8:20 PM respectively.
