Japan stocks higher at end of trade; Nikkei 225 up 0.45pc
Japan stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Paper & Pulp, Railway & Bus and Real Estate sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.45 percent to hit a new 1-month high. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1970 to 1550 and 265 ended unchanged. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was unchanged 0.00 percent to 13.90. Crude oil for February delivery was up 0.21 percent or 0.12 to $58.64 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in March rose 0.20 percent or 0.13 to hit $64.75 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract rose 0.30 percent or 4.65 to trade at $1555.15 a troy ounce. USD/JPY was up 0.08 percent to 110.22, while EUR/JPY rose 0.10 percent to 122.76. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.01 percent at 97.055.
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KSE-100 rises 103 points in volatile trading
The benchmark KSE-100 index extended gains on Friday and ended up 103 points in volatile trading as investor sentiment remained muted despite upbeat foreign direct investment (FDI) data released late on Thursday. In the first session, stock trading began on an optimistic note and the index gained close to 200 points in early hours, however, volatility emerged later and wiped off some of the gains. Nevertheless, the first session ended with a rise of 116 points. The second session began with a massive plunge but cherry-picking emerged in final hours, which completely erased the losses and led the index to a positive close. At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index recorded an increase of 102.67 points, or 0.24 percent, to settle at 43,167.76. Traded value of stocks stood at $41 million while volumes came in at 211 million shares, down 4 percent. Overall, trading volumes declined to 211.4 million shares compared with Thursday’s tally of 229.9 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs6.3 billion. Shares of 357 companies were traded. At the end of the day, 179 stocks closed higher, 153 declined and 25 remained unchanged. The Bank of Punjab was the volume leader with 27.8 million shares, losing Rs0.23 to close at Rs13.9.
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France stocks higher at end of trade; CAC 40 up 1.02pc
France stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Foods & Drugs, Gas & Water and General Financial sectors led shares higher. At the close in Paris, the CAC 40 rose 1.02 percent to hit a new 5-year high, while the SBF 120 index added 0.90 percent. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Paris Stock Exchange by 316 to 233 and 103 ended unchanged. The CAC 40 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of CAC 40 options, was down 3.44 percent to 11.09. Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.61 percent or 9.40 to $1559.90 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February fell 0.07 percent or 0.04 to hit $58.48 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract raised 0.11 percent or 0.07 to trade at $64.69 a barrel.
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Risk on sentiment increase Dax index at 2-year highs
Dax index trades 0.69 percent higher at 13,557 as traders cheer the signing of the phase one trade deal between China and USA. Better economic data out of China also boosts investors sentiment. Chinese Gross domestic product increased by 6.1 percent, down from 6.2 percent in 2018, while the annualized rate of growth drop to 6.0 percent in the 4Q. The China Retail Sales came in at 8 percent topping expectations of 7.8 percent in December. On the upside, the immediate resistance for the index stands at 13,557 today’s high. The record high from January 23rd 2018 at 13,596.89 is the next active supply zone. While the next resistance will be met at 16,600 psychological mark. First support for the DAX index will be met at 13,500 today’s low. If the DAX index pierces that level, the next support zone stands at 13,366 the low from January 14th. A trend changer point is the 50-day moving average at 12,245. If bears surpass that level the next hurdle is at 12,949 the low from January 6th.
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FTSE 100 hits 6-month highs UK retail sales disappoint
FTSE 100 jumps to six-month highs as investors increase bets that the Bank of England will proceed with a 25 basis point cut in the January policy meeting. The weaker UK retail sales add to the dovish sentiment. Retail Sales ex-fuel (year over year) came in at 0.7 percent below expectations of 2.9 percent. FTSE 100 is 0.81 percent higher at 7,671 as the bullish momentum both fundamentally and technically drives the index, making higher highs the last two weeks. On the upside, immediate resistance for FTSE stands at 7,676 the daily high. A convincing break above might test then the next resistance at 7,727 high from July 30th 2019. We have to go back to August 9 2018 top to find the next resistance level at 7,780. On the downside, initial support for the index stands at 7,609 the daily low. In case the FTSE 100 settles today below that level the next support zone will be met at 7,524 the low from January 8th. What can change the recent bullish momentum for the FTSE 100 index is a break below the 50-day moving average at 7,432.
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Sensex closes shade firmer at 41,945
The Benchmark indices, the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty, closed the day almost unchanged from their overnight levels. The Sensex gained 12 points or 0.03 per cent to finish at 41,945. The Nifty ended the day at 12,352, down 3 points on its overnight close. The Sensex, which opened flat at 41,929, posted an intra-day high of 42,063 and a low of 41,850. Among the BSE sectoral indices, the energy index gained 1.79 per cent, telecom 1.49 per cent and healthcare 1.26 per cent. The pan STOXX 600 index rose 0.4 per cent to a record high of 422.51 by 0803 GMT, and was set to mark its best week since late-December. Click here to read more on the European markets.