U.S. Opening Bell: Global Stocks Waver As Volatile Month Ends U.S. Dollar Slips

 | Jan 31, 2022 07:09

  • January's worst sector performer, technology, recovers
  • But markets still set for a dismal monthly performance
  • Bitcoin slides again
  • h2 Key Events/h2

    US futures on the Dow Jones, S&P 500, NASDAQ and Russell 2000 were mixed ahead of Monday's open on Wall Street. European shares were trading in the green as markets recovered slightly from the steepest selloff this past month since the March 2020 bottom. However, despite the modest rally markets are still heading for their worst January since 2016. 

    Oil continues to move higher

    h2 Global Financial Affairs/h2

    The technology sector, which was the biggest loser during the global selloff in January is leading this rally. 

    In Europe, the STOXX 600 Index is advancing for the fourth out of five days.

    Among the significant European gauges, Italy's FTSE MIB was up 0.8%, having pared a 1.6% rally, after the country avoided political turmoil by re-electing outgoing President Mattarella. Local investors bid up risk assets, with Financials leading the gains, as the country's borrowing costs fell.

    Former ECB boss, Mario Draghi—who is considered to be a driver of structural reforms in government administration, the judiciary and the tax system—has remained as Italy's Prime Minister. 

    In Asia, markets in China, Hong Kong, and South Korea are all closed for holidays. But regional benchmarks picked up where Wall Street left off last Friday, advancing with technology stocks. Australia's ASX 200 was the only Asia/Pacific market trading in the red, less than 0.25% deep. Banks, miners and financials—sensitive to the economic cycle— offset gains in the tech sector ahead of a central bank policy meeting.

    Still, JP Morgan considers the recent Australian selloff, after the Fed's hawkish shift that spooked traders and sent the benchmark down just under 9.9% to the brink of correction territory, a buying opportunity.