Opening Bell: Global Stocks Rise After Robust U.S. Session; Futures Waver

 | Mar 25, 2020 07:58

  • Congress and White House reach a deal on $2 trillion aid plan
  • Dow sees biggest one-day jump in 87 years
  • Oil heading back to $25
  • h2 Key Events/h2

    U.S. futures for the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and NASDAQ, whipsawed this morning, going from red, to green to red once again, consolidating after Tuesday's buoyant Wall Street rally. Global equities jumped on Wednesday, in the slipstream of the best U.S. market performance in more than a generation and the Dow Jones Industrial Average's best day since 1933.

    Yesterday's U.S. session was fueled by hopes that U.S. lawmakers and the Trump administration would finally reach a preliminary deal on $2 trillion worth of coronavirus stimulus—which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning—to help support U.S. workers and businesses as the global pandemic weighs on the country's and the global economy. The official vote on the bill will take place later today in Washington.

    Treasury yields rose, gold and the Japanese yen slipped as investors shift out of safe havens.

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    Traders are eagerly waiting to see if equities might actually post a two-day ascent later today, the first since the pandemic-fueled selloff began a month ago. Meanwhile, global economies are tapering to a standstill as the number of COVID-19 cases across the world escalates, and the fatality rate grows. The current count at time of writing: 425,493 cases, 18,963 deaths.

    The Stoxx Europe 600 Index opened higher, driven by energy and financial sector shares. Asian markets enjoyed some of their best gains since 2008. Japan's Nikkei outperformed (+8.13%); in Soeul, the KOSPI rose (+5.89%); Australia's ASX 200 also saw robust gains (+5.54%).

    On Tuesday, U.S. equities soared on hopes, now realized, that Congress was closing in on the biggest fiscal stimulus plan in the country's history.