U.S. Opening Bell: U.S. Futures, Europe Stocks Pushed By New Sanctions

 | Apr 04, 2022 06:52

  • Europe to debate more stringent sanctions on Russia
  • Traders awaiting comments from Fed members this week
  • Oil price volatility expected
  • h2 Key Events/h2

    On Monday, futures on the Dow Jones, S&P 500, NASDAQ 100 and Russell 2000 were marginally higher despite increased worries that the US and Europe may introduce more stringent sanctions on Russia following accusations of war crimes as Russian forces withdraw from parts of Ukraine.

    The oil price wavered on a surprise 2-month truce in the Yemen war.

    h2 Global Financial Affairs/h2

    US futures turned lower in the final hour of the Asian session and this slide increased in velocity with the European open but they recovered and are trading in positive territory

    In Europe, the STOXX 600 Index followed a similar pattern, opened up, stumbled lower and then recovered. Healthcare stocks led the gainers as Roche Holding (SIX:RO) jumped over 2% to test its Nov. 4 record. Demand surged after the US Food and Drug Administration granted a priority review to the Swiss drugmaker's coronavirus drug, Actemra/RoActemra.

    Asian shares continued to rally after Friday's rebound on Wall Street. Australia's ASX 200 and South Korea's KOSPI outperformed, rising 0.3% and 0.7% respectively. China's market was closed due to a holiday.

    At the end of trading on Friday, US stocks bounced off Friday lows as Treasuries were sold off. The US jobs report supported the argument for faster tightening by the US Federal Reserve in order to manage spiralling inflation. Traders will be closely watching comments from a number of members of the Federal Reserve this week including Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, New York Fed President John Williams, Fed Governor Lael Brainard, and St. Louis Fed President James Bullard.

    The Russell 2000 outperformed even though small firms find it more difficult to compete with the growth rate of large multinationals which have more resources to navigate rising US interest rates.

    Yields on the 10-year Treasury note rebounded from an initial dip on the prospect of Fed interest rate hikes.