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Stocks Rise, Dollar Drops as Election Count Begins: Markets Wrap

Adam Haigh and Claire Ballentine
·3 mins read

(Bloomberg) --

U.S. equity futures gained with most Asian stocks and the dollar extended its decline as investors awaited the outcome of the American presidential election.

S&P 500 futures climbed and stocks rose in Japan and South Korea as polls began to close across the country. Speculation is mounting that Americans will get a clear election decision and that Congress will deliver a spending bill. Democratic nominee Joe Biden led President Donald Trump in the final polls. Treasuries fell as benchmark yields passed 0.9%. Oil extended Monday’s gains.

Follow along here for our real-time news updates and analysis.

Meanwhile, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s U.S.-traded shares tumbled 8.1% after China halted the initial public offering of Ant Group Co., in which Alibaba owns about a one-third stake. The yuan pushed higher.

Investors are bracing for the outcome of a divisive election following weeks of speculation that a contested result could roil markets. Polls continue to indicate that Biden is ahead, though the race looks tight in some battleground states, some of which are seeing virus cases soar.

“It’s a reflection of the market’s belief there is not going to be a whole lot of uncertainty after election day,” said Matt Stucky, portfolio manager for equities at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. “The worst outcome for election day is a really uncertain winner scenario where it’s going to take weeks and a lot of legal back and forth before the decision is ultimately made.”

While trades reflecting a Democratic sweep held firm, betting markets aren’t convinced. One gauge slipped to just over 50% odds of the so-called Blue Wave -- that Democrats oust President Trump and take Congressional majorities. Traders hedged prospects of post-vote volatility, driving a measure of expected swings in China’s yuan to its highest level in more than nine years.

“I don’t think the market has priced in the uncertainty and volatility that we may face finishing up this election,” Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), said on Bloomberg TV. “Longer term the market is in a good place, but right now I am very cautious.”

These are some key events coming up:

EIA crude oil inventory report on Wednesday.Federal Reserve policy decision on Thursday.The key U.S. non-farm payrolls report is due Friday.Earnings are due this week from companies including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., AstraZeneca Plc, Nintendo Co., Macquarie Group Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corp.

These are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

S&P 500 futures added 0.6% as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo. The index rose 1.8% on Tuesday.Japan’s Topix index advanced 1%.Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index slipped 0.1%.

Currencies

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.5%.The yen fell 0.2% to 104.65 per dollar.The offshore yuan traded at 6.6625 per dollar, up 0.3%.The euro bought $1.1751, up 0.3%.

Bonds

The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose five basis points to 0.89%.Australia’s 10-year yield gained nine basis points to 0.86%.

Commodities

West Texas Intermediate crude gained 2.4% to $38.54 a barrel.Gold was at $1,915.89 an ounce, up 0.3%.

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