Meanwhile, throughout the past week, the Stock Exchanges seem to have entered a phase of slight profit-taking, with the market risk sentiment remaining positive. The ultra-expansive monetary policies and the determination of the governments to implement fiscal stimulus policies with a massive increase in public spending impact the economic figures, supporting the stock markets.
There is only one factor of concern for investors – the possible increase in tax collection to finance spending. The only correction we witnessed last week came after the Biden administration's announcement that they were considering raising the corporate income tax. This week, we could probably see some more news about this topic, potentially impacting the market.
A week full of earnings
Apart from Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet and Facebook, Tesla is scheduled to report its results this week. Elon Musk’s company has become an indicator of risk appetite like bitcoin.
In addition to these earnings reports, the Fed meets on Tuesday and Wednesday, while on Friday, the Advance GDP report is due for publishing, which is the inflation measure preferred by the Fed. In Europe, the GDP for the first quarter will be unveiled.
Today the ifo data has been published in Germany showing a figure lower than expected - 96.8 vs 97.8. The IFO institute stated that the situation produced by the pandemic is causing bottlenecks in supply chains as well as increases in logistics and production prices, which is the main cause of the lack of progress in the IFO index. To this must be added the worsening of infections in Germany and the strict measures to restrict mobility that are seriously affecting the German economy and the European economy as a whole.
For the reasons mentioned above, the euro area GDP, due for next week, could reveal negative numbers, which would technically put the European economy into recession.
However, these poor prospects are not having any effect on the price of the euro. It continues to gain territory against the dollar, technically breaking to the upside, exceeding the intermediate resistance zone located at 1.2070. EUR/USD is currently trading around 1.2100. The critical reference level that acts as resistance is located at 1.2150.
Sources: ft.com, investing.com.
