Covid-19 Daily Dashboard – 18 August 2020
An overview of key economic and financial metrics.
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Download an overview of key economic and financial metrics relating to Covid-19 on 18 August 2020.
Equities: In Europe, the STOXX 600 and DAX are both up +0.1% over the morning, while the FTSE 250 and CAC 40 have both added +0.2%. In the US, futures for the S&P 500 are up +0.1% this morning, while the Nasdaq closed at an all time high after adding +1.0%. In Asia, the S&P / ASX 200 closed +0.8% higher and both the Hang Seng and the Topix were up +0.1%, while the CSI 300 declined -0.1%.
VIX: The CBOE market volatility index and the Euro Stoxx 50 volatility price index are currently 21.29 and 22.8, compared to long term averages of 19.9 and 23.9, respectively.
Bonds: The US 10-year treasury yield and the German 10-year bund yield have both compressed -2bps to 0.67% and -0.47%, while the UK 10-year gilt yield has declined -1bp to 0.21%.
Currency: Sterling has appreciated to $1.32, the strongest it has been since January. The euro remains unchanged at $1.19, albeit since March, the euro has seen an +11% appreciation against the dollar. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are 0.28% and 1.11% per annum on a five-year basis.
Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry index increased for its 14th consecutive session yesterday, up +0.2% to 1,598. This brings cumulative gains since 28th July to +26%.
Oil: Brent Crude and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are currently $45.41 and $42.86 per barrel.
Gold: The price of gold appreciated +2.0% yesterday to $1,981 per troy ounce, albeit this is still -4% below the record high of $2,063 reached on 6th August.
UK Aviation Industry: After increasing flights to 60% of normal schedule over August, Ryanair has announced that it will decrease flights by -20% over the coming two months. Reductions to service will be focussed on countries that have seen worsening COVID-19 outbreaks, including France and Spain. Meanwhile, EasyJet has confirmed that it will close its bases in London Stanstead and Newcastle airport, but still fly a scaled down schedule, while completely pulling out of London Southend Airport.