U.S. debt-limit deal brings relief tinged by caution

 Robert Brand, Bloomberg News 



5h ago 




Synopsis  


 American equity futures showed modest gains following a tentative debt-ceiling deal, while European stocks remained steady. The dollar held its decline, and Treasury futures for the US government bond market rallied. Spain's benchmark underperformed due to a snap election announcement. Despite the agreement between President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy, uncertainties remain regarding the earnings recession and liquidity tightening. European bonds rose, Turkey's lira weakened, and gold and oil prices remained stable. The focus now shifts to the upcoming key events and market movements. 




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(Bloomberg) -- American equity futures posted modest gains amid cautious optimism the US will avert a catastrophic default after the weekend’s tentative debt-ceiling deal. European stocks wavered in muted holiday-affected trading. 


Contracts on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 were up about 0.3% each, with cash markets closed for Memorial Day. The dollar, which has benefited from angst around the statutory borrowing limit, held Friday’s decline while Treasury futures linked to the 10- to 30-year part of the US government bond market rallied on light volume. 


The Stoxx Europe 600 index edged lower, with Spain’s benchmark underperforming after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a surprise snap election following heavy losses for his party in regional and local elections Sunday. Volumes were about 60% lower than usual with markets in the UK and some European countries closed for national holidays. SBB gained after the embattled Swedish landlord said it may look to sell the company. A gauge of Asia-Pacific equities rose, though Chinese shares slid closer to a bear market. 


President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed confidence that their agreement to curtail spending and extend the borrowing limit will pass through Congress. But even assuming lawmakers seal the deal before the US government runs out of cash in about a week, traders still have much to contend with — from the prospect of another interest-rate hike from the Federal Reserve to a likely deluge of bond issuance from the US Treasury Department. 


“The obvious positive interpretation is that a negative tail risk is close to being taken off the table,” said Dan Suzuki, deputy chief investment officer at Richard Bernstein Advisors. “With the distraction of the debt ceiling fading into the background, investors can now refocus their attention on the underlying fundamentals. One concern, though, is that the fundamental picture remains precarious.”  


European bonds rose, with Germany’s 10-year yield falling about 11 basis points. Spain’s 10-year yield dropped by a similar amount. 


Meanwhile, Turkey’s lira weakened after Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a presidential runoff election on Sunday, extending his time as the nation’s longest-serving leader and leaving investors looking for any signs he’ll start to relax the state’s tight grip over markets. The nation’s stocks benchmark gained. 


Gold was flat on waning demand for havens, while as oil held onto most of Friday’s gains and Bitcoin climbed, reflecting a modestly buoyant tone. 


‘Uncertainty Persists’ 


The agreement struck by Biden and McCarthy is running against the clock given that June 5 is the date when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said cash will run out. There is plenty in the deal that Democrats and Republicans won’t like. 


“Uncertainty persists regarding the duration and severity of the ongoing earnings recession, and perversely, the near-term tightening of liquidity may worsen due to the government’s need to address its debt issuance backlog,” said Suzuki. “While the markets managed to avert an immediate crisis, the coast is far from all-clear just yet.” 


The rate-sensitive two-year Treasury drifted Friday as traders considered how a debt agreement could play into the Fed’s path forward on interest rates. The two-year yield hovered around 4.65% after a report on consumer spending showed the Fed still has more work to do to bring inflation back toward its target. 


“Markets will have the liquidity hassles to deal with, as the Treasury will issue a deluge of bonds to restore its cash reserves,” said Charu Chanana, market strategist at Saxo Capital Markets. “Not to forget, the hawkish re-pricing of the Fed path that we have seen last week could possibly get firmer if we get a hot jobs print this week.” 


Key events this week: 


Eurozone economic confidence, consumer confidence, Tuesday 


US consumer confidence, Tuesday 


Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin interviewed by NABE as part of monetary policy webinar series, Tuesday 


China manufacturing PMI, non-manufacturing PMI, Wednesday 


US job openings, Wednesday 


Fed issues Beige Book economic survey, Wednesday 


Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker has fireside chat on the global macro-economy and monetary conditions, Wednesday 


Boston Fed President Susan Collins and Fed Governor Michelle Bowman speak in Boston, Wednesday. 


ECB issues financial stability review, Wednesday 


China Caixin manufacturing PMI, Thursday 


Eurozone HCOB Eurozone Manufacturing PMI, CPI, unemployment, Thursday 


US construction spending, initial jobless claims, ISM Manufacturing, light vehicle sales, Thursday 


ECB issues report its May 3-4 monetary policy meeting. ECB President Christine Lagarde speaks at German savings banks conference, Thursday 


Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker speaks on economic outlook at NABE’s webinar, Thursday 


US unemployment, nonfarm payrolls, Friday 


Some of the main moves in markets: 


Stocks 


S&P 500 futures rose 0.3%, climbing for the third straight day, the longest winning streak since April 3 as of 12:46 p.m. New York time 


Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% to the highest since May 23 


The MSCI World index was little changed 


S&P 500 futures rose 0.3%, climbing for the third straight day, the longest winning streak since April 3 


Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.4% to a record high 


The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.4% 


The MSCI Emerging Markets Index fell 0.1% 


Currencies 


The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed 


The euro was little changed at $1.0713 


The British pound rose 0.1% to $1.2361 


The Japanese yen surged 0.2%, more than any closing gain since May 19 


The offshore yuan fell 0.2% to 7.0852 per dollar 


The Brazilian real weakened 0.1% to 5.0008 per dollar 


The Mexican peso rose 0.4% to 17.5553 per dollar 


Cryptocurrencies 


Bitcoin strengthened 0.3%,rising for the fifth straight day, the longest winning streak since March 21 


Ether rose 1.7% to $1,885.66 


Bonds 


The yield on 10-year Treasuries was little changed at 3.80% 


Germany’s 10-year yield declined 10 basis points to 2.43% 


Britain’s 10-year yield declined four basis points, more than any closing decline since May 11 


Commodities 


West Texas Intermediate crude was little changed 


Gold futures were little changed 


This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation. 



Source:  www.bnnbloomberg.ca 



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