Covid-19 Daily Dashboard – 30 April 2020
An overview of key economic and financial metrics relating to Covid-19
1 minute to read
Equities
European equities were broadly subdued this morning, with both the FTSE 100 and STOXX 600 falling -0.1%, while the DAX remained flat. However, the MSCI All-World Index, a measure of developed and emerging market shares, is up 11.7% this month, and on track for its best month since its inception in the 1980s, according to the Financial Times. This further indicates equities remaining largely immune to new data releases.
Currency
Sterling has remained stable at $1.25 this morning, for the third consecutive day.
Oil
Both the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent Crude are up by 15% this morning, currently priced at $17.34 a barrel and $25.98 a barrel, respectively. Despite the market positivity this morning, one of the US’ biggest oil refiners, Valero Energy, reported a $1.9 billion net loss in Q1 2020. Meanwhile, Royal Dutch Shell has announced that it has cut its dividend for the first time since WWII, after it’s quarterly earnings halved in Q1 2020.
US Economy
In Q1 2020, the US economy contracted by its fastest rate since the 2008 GFC at -4.8% on an annualised basis, ending the country’s longest expansionary period on record. The number of additional people applying for unemployment benefits was 3.8 million last week, above expectations of 3.5 million. This increases the total number reported over the past six weeks to 30.3 million.
Download an overview of key economic and financial metrics relating to Covid-19 on 30 April 2020.