Opening Bell: Futures Pop On U.S. Government Budget Deal; Dollar Wavers

 | Feb 12, 2019 05:36

  • European shares, U.S. futures mirror Asian rally after U.S. lawmakers avert shutdown
  • Dollar oscillates, yuan drops ahead of high-level U.S.-China talks
  • Oil rebounds
  • h2 Key Events/h2

    European stocks and futures on the S&P 500, Dow and NASDAQ 100 tracked Asian equities higher after U.S. lawmakers reached a deal on Monday, warding off a second government shutdown.

    The STOXX Europe 600 opened higher and quickly extended gains to 0.6 percent, with nearly all sectors in the green on the back of some upbeat earnings reports. Chemicals and car manufacturers were among the top gainers, while tire maker Michelin (PA:MICP) surged over 11 percent after forecasting higher profits for 2019—which gave investors something to cling on to amid a weakening outlook on growth.

    In the earlier Asian session, Japan's Nikkei 225 (+2.61 percent) led the region higher, boosted by a weaker yen—which in turn was weighed down by dollar strength.

    All major regional exchanges closed in positive territory. China's Shanghai Composite gained 0.68 percent, though Hong Kong's Hang Seng only climbed 0.1 percent. South Korea's KOSPI sealed a 0.45 percent gain, as IT giant Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) and chipmaker SK Hynix (KS:000660) leaped 2.33 percent and 2.43 percent forward respectively. LG Electronics (KS:066570) jumped 3.75 percent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 (+0.30 percent) was helped higher by energy stocks such as Woodside Petroleum (AX:WPL) (+0.58 percent) and Beach Energy (AX:BPT) (+2.11 percent).

    h2 Global Financial Affairs/h2

    On Monday, U.S. shares posted a mixed picture amid thin trading, ahead of key U.S.-Sino trade talks and as negotiations in Washington on a contentious spending bill continued in the background.

    The S&P 500 eked out a 0.07 percent gain after meandering throughout the trading session. At the close, gainers outnumbered decliners. Still, the languishing Communication Services sector (-1.03 percent) overshadowed gains in Industrials (+0.53 percent)—which had been led by railroad shares.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average (-0.21 percent) was the only major U.S. index closing in the red, as health care companies such as UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Merck (NYSE:MRK) pulled the benchmark lower. Volumes were muted as investors were waiting to see some direction in ongoing domestic and global political issues.

    Futures and shares inched higher after U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally, steered clear of criticizing a deal-in-the-making among legislators to fund the government. He also said he didn't want China to have a 'hard time,' increasing the potential for success of high-level trade talks coming up on Thursday and Friday.

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    Investors probably found Trump's words reassuring following a drop in the yuan, whose devaluation has been at the center of the U.S. President's attacks against Chinese officials.