U.S. Stocks Set for a Rebound, Dollar Weakens: Markets Wrap

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks were poised for a rebound, while the dollar weakened in one of the final trading sessions of the year.

Volumes were light across markets, with the Euro Stoxx 50 seeing about half of the average activity. Futures on the S&P 500 added 0.4% and emerging-market stocks advanced to the highest levels since 2007 on buoyant inflows. Bitcoin extended its frenetic rally, approaching $28,000.

With a volatile year coming to a close, risk assets such as stocks, corporate bonds and Bitcoin are sitting just off record highs. As investors try to assess the impact of the pandemic and the pace of vaccine distribution, the MSCI World Index of global stocks is set to end the year about 14% higher, having surged almost 68% since its March low.

“This is an economy that is recovering, policy is going to be accommodative for years to come, it suggest a good backdrop for risk assets – it doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be some challenges as we progress over the next couple of years,” Brian Levitt, Invesco global market strategist, said on Bloomberg TV. “The reality is the markets are going to be focused on a recovery.”

On the coronavirus front, the Covid-19 variant discovered in the U.K. has arrived in Colorado, and a second cluster of infections emerged in Sydney. President-elect Joe Biden criticized vaccine-distribution efforts under President Trump as too slow. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has approved placing further swathes of the country into stricter Tier 4 restrictions, according to the Times.

Elsewhere in markets, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.8% and oil advanced.

Here are some key events coming up:

• U.S. pending home sales and goods trade balance data are due Wednesday.
• U.S. initial jobless claims figures are published Thursday.
• Most global stock markets are closed Friday for New Year’s Day.

These are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

• Futures on the S&P 500 Index gained 0.3% as of 10:39 a.m. London time.
• The Stoxx Europe 600 Index increased 0.2%.
• The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.8%.
• The MSCI Emerging Market Index increased 1.3%.

Currencies

• The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index declined 0.4% to 1,119.33.
• The euro rose 0.3% to $1.2284.
• The British pound climbed 0.7% to $1.3594.
• The Japanese yen strengthened 0.4% to 103.14 per dollar.

Bonds

• The yield on 10-year Treasuries gained one basis point to 0.95%.
• The yield on two-year Treasuries increased less than one basis point to 0.13%.
• Germany’s 10-year yield rose two basis points to -0.56%.
• Britain’s 10-year yield climbed three basis points to 0.239%.

Commodities

• West Texas Intermediate crude gained 0.5% to $48.33 a barrel.
• Gold was little changed at $1,878.97 an ounce.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.