Opening Bell: Futures, Stocks Gather Momentum On Stimulus, Brexit Deal; Oil Up

US contracts for the Dow Jones, S&P 500, NASDAQ and Russell 2000 advanced on Tuesday, along with European stocks. Two driving factors: the potential for a larger US stimulus package along with the ongoing positive sentiment from last week's eleventh-hour Brexit deal between the EU and UK which was signed ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Treasury yields edged higher, the dollar fell and oil jumped on prospects of increased demand in 2021.

Momentum from yesterday's record breaking rally on Wall Street extended this morning to US futures and European shares. Adding to positive sentiment, the House voted yesterday evening to boost the size of individual stimulus checks from $600 to $2000, something US President Donald Trump had demanded when he refused to sign the fiscal aid package before the holiday. Though Trump signed the $900 billion aid package into law on Sunday, the individual relief payouts were not altered.

The Senate is expected to vote on the raise later today. Stiff resistance}} from Republicans is expected.

On Tuesday, all four US contracts were in the green, after each posted fresh all-time highs on Monday. However, futures on the Russell 2000 lagged, as they did yesterday when they were the only index that closed in the red.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced with every sector gaining, except for banks and energy. The UK's FTSE 100 opened 1.5% higher and extended the rally to 2.5%, its highest point since Mar. 5, after the 27 ambassadors of the EU member nations officially approved the Brexit deal, to be implemented on Jan 1.

London-based drugmaker AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) jumped 3.6%, ahead of the expected approval of the company's COVID vaccine for use in the UK this week.

Most Asian indices climbed, following the New York session higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 2.7%, outperforming the region and hitting a 30-year high.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped, (+1%), as bargain hunters snapped up regional shares of Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) (HK:9988) after a sharp two-day selloff during which the stock shed 16% of its value.

However, we consider this rise part of market dynamics that follow a H&S top, leaving risk to the downside.

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Despite the prevailing risk-on appetite, yields, including for the 10-year Treasury note, edged higher.

The move occurred within a tight continuation pattern, within a rising channel.

The dollar slumped once again.

Though it was off its lows, traders struggled after the greenback completed a second consecutive bearish pattern within a falling channel.

Gold rose on dollar weakness.

The precious metal completed a falling flag on Monday, which followed a H&S bottom. Bulls are now attempting to break out of a falling channel.

Bitcoin retreated from its newest record high, above $28K, though, like the dollar, it's now off its lows.

Technically, the digital currency is contending with an extremely bearish shooting star, following a sharp rally.

Oil opened higher, on hopes the newest round of US stimulus will spur demand.

WTI is struggling to stay above $48 after finding resistance by its broken uptrend line.

h2 Up Ahead/h2

• Pending Home Sales and {{ecl-1650||Goods Trade Balance data from the US are due Wednesday.
• US weekly Initial Jobless Claims figures will be released on Thursday.
• Most global stock markets will be closed Friday for the New Year holiday.

h2 Market Moves/h2 h3 Stocks/h3

• Futures on the S&P 500 Index increased 0.5%.
• The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 1%.
• The MSCI Asia Pacific Index jumped 1%.
• The MSCI Emerging Markets Index climbed 0.4%.

h3 Currencies/h3

• The Dollar Index fell 0.3% to 90.06.
• The euro gained 0.3% to $1.2251.
• The British pound jumped 0.5% to $1.3513.
• The onshore yuan strengthened 0.1% to 6.53 per dollar.
• The Japanese yen moved 0.2% to 103.64 per dollar.

h3 Bonds/h3

• The yield on 10-year Treasuries advanced two basis points to 0.95%.
• The yield on two-year Treasuries increased one basis point to 0.13%.
• Germany’s 10-year yield increased less than one basis point to -0.56%.
• Japan’s 10-year yield was unchanged at 0.025%.
• Britain’s 10-year yield fell three basis points to 0.223%.

h3 Commodities/h3

• West Texas Intermediate crude increased 1% to $48.08 a barrel.
• Brent crude gained 1% to $51.39 a barrel.
• Gold strengthened 0.3% to $1,879.93 an ounce.