Opening Bell: ECB's Draghi Buoys U.S. Futures, But Bonds Gain Too; Euro Falls

 | Jun 18, 2019 04:52

  • ECB's Draghi boosts U.S. futures, European shares, with strong loosening signals
  • Yields retest 2017 lows, yen climbs as investors also seek safety
  • Euro slips, Australian dollar hits 10-year low on RBA dovishness
  • FAANG lead U.S. gains ahead of Fed decision
  • h2 Key Events/h2

    Futures on the S&P 500, Dow and NASDAQ 100 rebounded alongside European equities this morning, as the European Central Bank's President Mario Draghi offered markets the clearest sign yet that the ECB stands ready to unleash further easing if inflation remains subdued—boosting hopes policymakers on the other side of the Atlantic will echo an markedly dovish stance on Wednesday.

    However, investors sought exposure to safe havens too, sending Treasury yields to retest 2017 lows and setting up the USD/JPY pair to complete a bearish pattern.

    The STOXX 600 opened lower and initially extended a decline for the third straight day, before investors registered Draghi's words at the ECB annual meeting in Sintra, Portugal. Automobile makers and technology shares underperformed, after the latter led the recent rally globally. From a technical perspective, after slipping below the 100 DMA, the pan-European gauge pared losses, revealing demand.

    Conversely, the euro turned lower after climbing. From a technical standpoint, the single currency trades within a downtrend, though it’s extending a breach to the 50 DMA, which puts it one technical step closer to take out the downtrend line and potentially reverse. A potential catalyst for such a breakout is if the Fed validates the forgone conclusion of a rate cut—and adds a softer outlook.