Covid-19 Daily Dashboard - 16 December 2020

Download an overview of key economic and financial metrics relating to Covid-19 on 16 December 2020.

Equities: Globally, stocks are higher. In Europe, the DAX (+1.7%), FTSE 250 (+1.4%), STOXX 600 (+0.9%) and the CAC 40 (+0.8%) are all up over the morning. In Asia, the Hang Seng (+1.0%), S&P / ASX 200 (+0.7%), Kospi (+0.5%), Topix (+0.3%) and CSI 300 (+0.2%) all closed higher. In the US, futures for the S&P 500 are up +0.1%.
VIX: Following a -3.7% decline over yesterday, the CBOE market volatility has decreased a further -2.5% this morning to 22.3, which remains above its long term average (LTA) of 19.9. The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index has also decreased, down -5.4% to 20.6, remaining below its LTA of 24.0.
Bonds: Both the UK 10-year gilt yield and the German 10-year bund yield have softened +3bps to 0.28% and -0.58%, while the US 10-year treasury yield is up +1bp to 0.92%.
Currency: Sterling has appreciated to $1.35, the highest it has been since April 2018, while the euro is currently $1.22. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are 0.41% and 1.32% per annum on a five-year basis.
Baltic Dry: The Baltic Dry increased for the fifth consecutive session on Tuesday, up +3.1% to 1273, the highest the index has been in six weeks. Recent gains in the index have largely been driven by capesize rates, which increased +6.9% yesterday. Year to date gains in the Baltic Dry are currently at +17%, following cumulative declines of -39% since 6th October. When compared to the peak of 1956 seen on 6th July, the index is down -35%.
Oil: Both Brent Crude and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increased +0.4% this morning to $50.94 and $47.79.
Gold: The price of gold increased +1.4% over Tuesday to $1,853, the highest daily increase since the beginning of November.
Brexit: There is currently a 77% likelihood of a trade deal between the UK and the European Union being signed in 2020, according to Oddschecker. This compares to 71% yesterday and 64% one week ago.
Lockdown: From today in England, London, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire will be moved to a ‘very high’ alert level. Restrictions have also been tightened in Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands and Czech Republic.