by Claude Chendjou

PARIS (Reuters) – The main European stock markets are expected to rise slightly on Monday, but without much conviction, for a session poor in indicators where investors should mainly focus on the inflation figures in the United States, expected on Tuesday , while company publications continue.

According to the first available indications, the Parisian CAC 40 should gain 0.49% at the opening, the Dax in Frankfurt 0.32% and the FTSE 100 in London 0.23%. The EuroStoxx 50 index is expected to increase by 0.38%.

In the absence of major indicators for this Monday, a wait-and-see attitude should dominate while central bankers in Europe and the United States also called last week for caution on a possible reduction in key rates. At least seven officials from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) are due to speak again this week.

The consumer price index (CPI) in the United States for the month of January will be published on Tuesday and the Reuters consensus forecasts an unchanged figure on a monthly basis (+0.3%) and a deceleration on an annual basis (+ 3.8%). The next day, it will be the turn of the United Kingdom to announce its figures with a CPI forecast to contract by 0.3% over one month, but up by 4.2% over one year. Monthly data for the Eurozone is due on February 22.

Analysts say any sign that price pressures are regaining strength could further push back the timing of rate cuts anticipated by markets.

In terms of corporate publications, Coca-Cola, Hasbro, Michelin, Orange, Airbus, Stellantis, Renault and Commerzbank are expected this week, among others.

A WALL STREET

The New York Stock Exchange ended in mixed order on Friday, with the Dow Jones down slightly while the S&P-500 closed for the first time in its history above 5,000 points, driven by the largest capitalizations.

The Dow Jones index fell 0.14%, or 54.64 points, to 38,671.69 points.

The broader S&P-500 gained 28.70 points, or 0.57%, to 5,026.61 points.

The Nasdaq Composite advanced 196.95 points (+1.25%) to 15,990.66 points, after exceeding 16,000 points during the session for the first time since November 2021.

The largest market capitalizations such as Microsoft (+1.55%), Alphabet (+2.11%) and Amazon (+2.71%) benefited from the upward trend, as well as semiconductor manufacturers, in particular Nvidia, whose stock finished at a record level (+3.57%).

IN ASIA

Markets are closed on Monday in China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia due to the Lunar New Year holiday.

The Nikkei index on the Tokyo Stock Exchange advanced 0.09% on Friday to 36,897.42 points, after hitting a new 34-year high during the session, thanks in particular to a depreciation of the yen, which fell to a two-month low of 149.37 per dollar.

The broader Japanese Topix lost 0.19% to 2,557.88 points at Friday’s close.

VALUES TO FOLLOW IN EUROPE:

EXCHANGES/RATES

The dollar is stable (-0.01%) against a basket of reference currencies after a slight decline on Friday following a downward revision of expectations of a reduction in Fed rates.

The euro gained 0.13%, to 1.0796 dollars, while the pound sterling stood at 1.264 dollars (+0.11%).

On the bond market, the yield on ten-year US Treasury bonds fell by around two basis points, to 4.1637%, after virtual stagnation at the close on Friday.

The yield on the German Bund of the same maturity appears at 2.355, down around two points, after a gain of the same magnitude on Friday.

OIL

The oil market begins the week in decline after last week’s sharp rise linked to tensions in the Middle East while Israel announced on Monday the release of two hostages in Rafah.

Brent fell by 0.35% to $81.90 per barrel and American light crude (West Texas Intermediate, WTI) by 0.36% to $76.56.

(Written by Claude Chendjou, edited by Zhifan Liu)

Copyright © 2024 Thomson Reuters