Covid-19 Daily Dashboard - 14 December 2020

Download an overview of key economic and financial metrics relating to Covid-19 on 14 December 2020.

COVID-19: The total number of cases recorded globally is circa 72 million, with approximately 1.6 million reported deaths according to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine.
Equities: In Europe, stocks are higher. The FTSE 250 and the DAX have both added +1.0% this morning, while the STOXX 600 and the CAC 40 are both up +0.9%. In Asia, stocks were mixed, with the Hang Seng (-0.4%) and Kospi (-0.3%) closing lower, while the CSI 300 (+0.9%), Topix (+0.5%) and S&P / ASX 200 (+0.3%) were higher on close. In the US, futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are both up +0.4%.
VIX: Following a +2.1% increase over Friday, the CBOE market volatility has decreased -2.8% this morning to 22.7, which remains above its long term average (LTA) of 19.9. The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index has also decreased, down -5.6% to 22.3, remaining below its LTA of 24.0.
Bonds: The UK 10-year gilt yield has softened +5bps to 0.22%, while the German 10-year bund yield is up +2bps to -0.62% and the US 10-year treasury yield has added +1bp to 0.91%.
Currency: Both sterling and the euro have appreciated this morning to $1.34 and $1.22, respectively. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are 0.47% and 1.33% per annum on a five-year basis.
Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry increased +4.3% on Friday to 1211, the highest daily increase since the beginning of October, lifting the index +1.2% over the week. Year to date gains in the index are currently at +11%, following cumulative declines of -42% since 6th October. When compared to the peak of 1956 seen on 6th July, the index is down -38%.
Oil: After increasing +1.1% over the morning, Brent Crude has risen above $50 per barrel, currently at $50.51. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is also up this morning, increasing +1.0% to $47.03.
Brexit: There is currently a 59% likelihood of a trade deal between the UK and the European Union being signed in 2020, according to Oddschecker. This compares to 65% one week ago and 80% last month.