DStv Channel 403 Monday, 02 December 2024

Stocks advance on eve of US inflation data

Asian and European stock markets climbed Monday as traders awaited this week's key US inflation data, with traders still concerned the Federal Reserve could lift interest rates again.

Decision-makers at the central bank had lined up last week to warn that more tightening could be warranted to bring prices under control, tempering optimism that the hiking cycle had come to an end.

That sparked a wide sell-off on Friday, though a tech-led surge on Wall Street before the weekend provided traders some support on Monday and the positivity spilled over into Europe.

However, with focus firmly on Tuesday's upcoming US consumer price index data, equity gains were limited while the dollar was mixed.

"The forthcoming CPI report holds the potential to reintroduce the possibility of a rate hike," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.

Investors fret over interest rate hikes because they ramp up the cost of borrowing for businesses and consumers alike, and therefore crimp economic activity.

Fears that global rates could remain elevated for an extended period were fanned by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who on Friday forecast a resurgence of inflation.

She also said officials would not start cutting rates for at least "the next couple of quarters".

Expectations that US borrowing costs will not come down anytime soon boosted the dollar, with traders keeping an eye on its movement against the yen after Japanese authorities warned they could intervene to support their currency.

Investors will be watching also a planned meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in San Francisco later in the week amid signs tensions were easing between the economic superpowers. 

Chinese officials said the two will discuss "global peace and development".

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