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US stocks at record after strong data
NEW YORK, Oct 4, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A trove of strong US economic data on
Wednesday elevated the Dow to a second straight all-time high and lifted 10-
year US Treasury yields to a seven-year peak.
Wall Street’s latest record came as European equities moved higher after
Italy sent a more conciliatory message to Brussels over its budget plans,
easing worries somewhat about a revived eurozone crisis.
Yields on the 10-year US Treasury bond got as high as 3.18, a record since
July 2011, and the latest indication of continuing US economic momentum.
Higher bond yields can at times prompt Wall Street sell-offs because they
are accompanied by higher lending costs for mortgages, business loans and
credit card rates.
But Wall Street stayed in positive territory throughout Wednesday’s
session as US data continued to surprise to the upside.
US private sector hiring came in at 230,000 in September, much higher than
expected and based largely on strong growth in the services sector.
A report by Institute for Supply Management also outlined robust
conditions for the services industry, with activity hitting an all-time high.
“I thought we might slowdown and move a little sideways from last month,”
said Anthony Nieves, chair of ISM’s survey committee for the non-
manufacturing sector. But “all indications are we will continue to see growth
in this sector.”
The outlook is also positive for US shoppers, with the National Retail
Federation predicting holiday shopping gains of 4.3-4.8 percent this winter
compared with last year, citing such factors as strong employment levels and
robust consumer sentiment.
“While there is concern about the impacts of an escalating trade war, we
are optimistic that the pace of economic activity will continue to increase
through the end of the year,” said NRF Chief Executive Matthew Shay.
MORE/HR/0928
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– Softer message from Rome –
In Europe, bourses in Paris and Milan rose after Italian officials sent a
more benign message on their spending plans after earlier projections of a
steep increase in the debt sparked criticism from Brussels. Frankfurt was
closed.
Italy’s Finance Minister Giovanni Tria told a public meeting of the
Confindustria industry association Wednesday the deficit would be squeezed
“after 2019.”
He said “we see confronting the reduction of public debt as fundamental,”
quite apart from restrictions of European spending rules.
The budget drafted last week raises spending and pushes the public deficit
to around 2.4 percent of gross domestic product.
Although Tria did not give figures, Italian media said Rome’s populist
government would shave budget deficit targets for 2020 and 2021 to 2.2
percent and 2.0 percent, respectively.
Oil prices shot up to four-year highs following comments by US Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo and White House National Security adviser John Bolten on
Iran that exacerbated worries about a supply hit from the region.
Among individual companies, General Motors jumped 2.1 percent after
announcing that Honda Motors agreed to invest $2.75 billion in GM’s Cruise
autonomous driving venture. US-listed shares of Honda fell 3.6 percent.
James Bond’s favorite carmaker Aston Martin stalled after making a glitzy
o4.3-billion ($5.6-billion) debut on the London stock market.
Aston Martin shares made a flat start before ending the day down 4.8
percent.
– Key figures around 2100 GMT –
New York – Dow Jones: UP 0.2 percent at 26,828.39 (close)
New York – S&P 500: UP 0.1 percent at 2,925.51 (close)
New York – Nasdaq: UP 0.3 percent at 8,025.09 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.5 percent at 7,510.28 (close)
Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 5,491.40 (close)
Milan – FTSE MIB – UP 0.8 percent at 20,736.01 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.5 percent at 3,405.48 (close)
Frankfurt – DAX 30: CLOSED
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 24,110.96 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.1 percent at 27,091.26 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: CLOSED
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1505 from $1.1548 at 2100 GMT
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2966 from $1.2979
Dollar/yen: UP at 114.46 from 113.65 yen
Oil – Brent Crude: UP $1.49 at $86.29 per barrel
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: UP $1.18 at $76.41 per barrel
BSS/AFP/HR/0930