Global Stocks Snap Losing Streak Ahead of Fed Rate Decision
Global stocks rose Wednesday for the first time this week, pausing a steep selloff as investors shifted their focus to the Federal Reserve.
Bank shares helped lift the Stoxx Europe 600 up 1.5% in morning trade, following a strong session in Asia. Futures pointed to a 0.3% opening gain for the S&P 500, after Wall Street’s sharpest four-day drop since February. Changes in futures do not necessarily reflect market moves after the opening bell.
Later Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announces its June interest rate decision and holds a press conference with Chairwoman Janet Yellen. The U.S. central bank is widely expected to keep rates on hold following the worst jobs report in six years, but investors will closely watch its forecasts and policy statement for hints at what the bank might do later this year
Advertisement
“May’s employment data was positive on the margin for risk assets, turning what had become increasingly hawkish Fed rhetoric more cautious,” said Daniel Waldman, strategist at UBS, in a note. “But for this to persist, employment growth needs to stabilize, and the Fed’s more dovish shift, as represented by Chair Yellen’s June 6 speech, needs to last,” he added.
Market participants see just a 2%, probability of a rate rise at today’s meeting, according to Fed funds futures tracked by CME Group. The probability of a rate rise by July, however, rises to 21%, while the change of higher rates by September is at 35%.
Recent economic data has painted a mixed picture of the world’s largest economy. The May jobs report showed that hiring fell sharply, and broader economic growth slowed to 0.8% annualized in the first quarter. Still, U.S. retail sales rose solidly in May, data showed Tuesday, pointing to healthy consumer spending, while a separate report showed prices for imported goods rose by the most since 2012, suggesting inflation could be moving toward the Fed’s 2% target.
Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen. Investors are eagerly awaiting Wednesday’s Fed rate decision.
Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen. Investors are eagerly awaiting Wednesday’s Fed rate decision. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press
Earlier, shares in Shanghai rose 1.6% even after a widely tracked emerging market index decided not to include a group of mainland Chinese stocks.
Shares in Japan and Hong Kong eked out small gains, while Australian shares fell as Brent crude oil dropped 1.1% to $49.27 a barrel.
In Europe, London’s FTSE 100 index rose 1.1%, recovering somewhat from its largest losing streak since August. “The FTSE is like a cat on hot bricks,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, analyst at London Capital Group, estimating that the U.K.’s hundred largest companies lost nearly £100 billion, ($142 billion) worth of value during the last four trading sessions.
More broadly, European stocks have shed over 7% in five consecutive days of declines, while German government bond yields have entered negative territory for the first time on record amid concerns about a June 23 referendum on U.K. membership in the European Union.
Bank shares in Europe fell for seven consecutive sessions through Tuesday, shedding over 10%, with Italy’s troubled lenders facing increasing pressure.
Investors are concerned a U.K. exit from the European Union could pressure shares throughout the continent and puncture a delicate economic recovery in the eurozone.
The European Central Bank said Tuesday it stands ready to work with the Bank of England to provide additional liquidity to financial markets if the U.K. votes to exit next week, a person familiar with the matter said.
As risk appetite returned Wednesday, 10-year German bond yields rose to 0.002%, while benchmark U.S. Treasurys yields climbed to 1.627%. Yields in Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal, however, continued to fall. Yields move inversely to prices.
Gold pulled back 0.3% to $1,284 an ounce, while the dollar rose 0.3% against the yen to ¥106.2950 after hitting its lowest 5 p.m. New York rate since September 2014 on Tuesday.
The euro inched up 0.1% against the dollar to $1.1217.
—Tom Fairless and Eric Morath contributed to this article
Write to Riva Gold at
riva.gold@wsj.com