On 16 June, 2017 – Stocks were mixed for the day and week
Merger news and a Greek creditors’ agreement sent stocks upward in Europe and the US.
United States
US stocks were mixed both on Friday and for the week thanks in part to disappointing economic data. Even though a major merger was announced, the Dow Jones industrials edged up only 0.1 percent, the S&P was virtually unchanged (up 0.69 point) but the Nasdaq was 0.2 percent lower. For the week, The Dow and S&P added 0.5 percent and 0.1 percent respectively while Nasdaq retreated 0.9 percent.
Amazon’s $13.4 billion deal for Whole Foods sent grocery stores, big retailers and food makers and distributors plunging. The proposed deal shook markets as investors wondered if Amazon will do to grocery stores and supermarkets what it has done to sellers of goods like clothing and office supplies — force them to make big changes or be supplanted. Whole Foods had been the target of sale rumors for about two months. Both Amazon and Whole Foods advanced. Wal-Mart, Costco and Target tumbled. Kroger and Sprouts Farmers market also declined. Campbell Soup, General Mills and United Natural Foods dropped.
Energy companies rose as oil futures bounced back from their lowest price this year and utilities along with industrial and basic materials experienced modest gains. Exxon Mobil said it has made a final investment decision to proceed with the first phase of development for the Liza field, one of the largest oil discoveries of the past decade, located offshore Guyana.
May housing starts slumped 5.5 percent to an annualized rate of 1.092 million from the revised April estimate of 1.156 million. Permits tumbled 4.9 percent to 1.168 million from a revised 1.228 million the month before. The University of Michigan June preliminary consumer sentiment reading was 94.5, down from May’s final reading of 97.1. The June reading was the weakest since last November.
These data reflect observations at 4:00 PM US ET. Gold at the afternoon London fixing was up 85 US cents to US$1,255.40. Copper futures were down 0.15 percent to US$2.58. WTI spot crude was up 28 US cents to US$44.74. Dated Brent spot crude was up 45 US cents to US$47.37. The US dollar was down against the euro, pound, Swiss franc and the Canadian and Australian dollars. The currency was virtually unchanged against the yen. The Dollar Index was down 0.3 percent. The yields on both the US Treasury 30 year bond and 10 year note were down 1 basis point to 2.78 percent and 2.15 percent respectively.
Europe
European shares advanced Friday even though food retailers declined after the news that Amazon.com would buy Whole Foods, raising fears of heightened competition for the sector. Investors cheered the news that Greece’s creditors reached an agreement to release the next tranche of funds to Athens. Investors also were relieved after a new poll showed that French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party was headed for a large majority in Sunday’s legislative elections. The FTSE was up 0.6 percent, the CAC gained 0.9 percent, the DAX advanced 0.5 percent and the SMI jumped 1.2 percent. On the week, the FTSE declined 0.8 percent, the CAC lost 0.7 percent and the DAX was down 0.5 percent. However, the SMI added 1.3 percent.
Auto makers were mixed with Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW finishing lower while Renault and Peugeot advanced. Rolls Royce Holding increased after the engines maker said it has started 2017 well, with all businesses performing in line with its expectations. Energy stocks also fared well as crude oil prices stabilized. BP gained — the company and its Indian partner Reliance Industries have unveiled plans to invest a combined $6 billion in the D6 gas field in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin. Société Générale rose as the shares of its car leasing arm ALD Automotive traded above their initial public offering price. Crédit Agricole slipped after its international private banking arm Indosuez Wealth Management entered into exclusive discussions to acquire the private banking activities of Crédit Industriel et Commercial in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Dutch supermarket chain Ahold Delhaize, which has a strong presence on the US east coast tumbled while elsewhere in the sector shares in French supermarkets Casino and Carrefour also fell. British retailers Sainsbury, and Ocado were sharply lower as well. Tesco tumbled, erasing early gains after posting its strongest UK sales growth in seven years. Nestlé jumped in Zurich after the company said it was considering a sale of its US confectionery business. In Paris, outdoor advertising company JCDecaux gained after winning the exclusive advertising contract for the Tocumen International Airport in Panama.
Asia Pacific
Asian stocks were mostly higher as the yen weakened and oil prices steadied after two days of losses on supply concerns. Investors were relieved that Greece and European creditors reached a deal on the next stages of Athens’ €86 billion bailout.
The Nikkei was up 0.6 percent while the Topix gained 0.5 percent. On the week, the Nikkei lost 0.3 percent while the Topix gained 0.3 percent. The yen weakened against other major currencies after the Bank of Japan kept its monetary policy on hold as widely expected while upgrading its assessment of private consumption and overseas growth. Financials including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Nomura Holdings rallied. Trading in Takata shares were suspended after reports that the air bag maker is preparing to file for bankruptcy protection as early as next week.
The Shanghai Composite was down 0.3 percent on concerns about the country’s rising debt, slowing growth and policy tightening. The Hang Seng was 0.2 percent higher. The Shanghai Composite declined 1.1 percent on the week while the Hang Seng was 1.6 percent lower.
Both the S&P/ASX and All Ordinaries added 0.2 percent and posted their strongest weekly advance in two months. The S&P/ASX was up 1.7 percent on the week while the All Ordinaries was 1.6 percent higher. The big four banks rose — investors were lured by their dividend yields. Telstra also closed modestly higher, a day after the telecom company said it would lay off 1,400 workers in a fresh round of job cuts. Miners closed marginally lower while energy stocks were mixed.
The Kospi was virtually unchanged (up 0.18 point) as foreign investors turned net sellers, offsetting buying by local institutions and individuals. The Sensex slipped 0.1 percent Friday and was down 0.7 percent on the week.
Looking forward
Central Bank activities
June 22
New Zealand
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Monetary Policy Announcement
The following indicators will be released this week…
Europe
June 20
Germany
Producer Price Index (May0
June 22
Eurozone
EC Consumer Confidence (June flash)
June 23
Eurozone
PMI Manufacturing, Services & Composite (June flash)
Germany
PMI Manufacturing, Services & Composite (June flash)
France
PMI Manufacturing, Services & Composite (June flash)
Gross Domestic Product (Q1.2017)
Asia Pacific
June 19
Japan
Merchandise Trade (May)
June 23
Japan
Manufacturing PMI (June flash)
Americas
June 21
United States
Existing Home Sales (May)
June 22
Canada
Retail Sales (April)
United States
Initial Unemployment Claims (week ending prior Saturday)
June 23
Canada
Consumer Price Index (May)
United States
PMI Manufacturing, Services & Composite (June flash)
New Home Sales (May)
Global Stock Markets
*Note — all releases are listed in local time.
Source: Fidelity
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