Daily Economics Dashboard - 4 January 2021

Download an overview of key economic and financial metrics on 4 January 2021 2020.

COVID-19 Vaccine: Rollout of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine has commenced today in the UK.
Equities: By the end of 2020, the Kospi recorded the highest annual gain of any equity index, increasing +31% over the year to 31st December. The S&P 500, Sensex and Nikkei 225 all recorded annual gains of +16%, while the SSE (+14%), DJIA (+7%), Topix (+5%), DAX (+4%) and S&P / ASX 100 (+1%), also recorded year to date gains. Meanwhile, the IBEX 35 (-15%), CAC 40 (-7%), FTSE 250 (-6%) and the STOXX 600 (-4%) were all down over the year.
VIX: The CBOE market volatility index has increased +1.7% this morning to 23.1, while the the Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index has decreased -1.7% to 23.0. The CBOE vix and the Euro Stoxx 50 vix closed +65% and +68% higher over the year to 31st December, respectively.
Bonds: The UK 10-year gilt yield, US 10-year treasury yield and the German 10-year bund yield are currently 0.18%, 0.93% and -0.60%, respectively.
Currency: Sterling is currently $1.37, the highest it has been since April 2018, while the euro is $1.23. Hedging benefits for US dollar denominated investors into the UK and the eurozone are 0.53% and 1.31% per annum on a five-year basis.
Baltic Dry: The final Baltic Dry reading for 2020 was 1366 on 24th December, which equates to a +25% increase over the year. This is the first annual increase in the index in three years, despite the impact of COVID-19.
Oil: Brent Crude and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are currently priced at $51.80 and $48.30 per barrel. Over the year to 31st December, Brent Crude and the WTI declined -22% and -21%, respectively.
Gold: The price of gold closed at $1,897 on 31st December, a +24% increase compared to January 2020.
Control of US Senate: Prior to the Georgia run-off elections, the probability of the US Republican Party maintaining control of the US Senate is currently 54%, down from 70% last week. The likelihood of the US Democratic Party gaining control of the Senate is 47%, up from 34% one week ago.