(Bloomberg) — Stocks fell as traders took risk off the table ahead of a raft of policy decisions this week that will reveal how major central banks view progress in the fight against inflation.
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Societe Generale SA slumped as much as 8.4% and was among the biggest drags on Europe’s Stoxx 600 Index after the French lender’s strategic plan included cuts to revenue and profitability targets. US equity futures signaled a slight rebound from Friday’s declines on Wall Street. Apple Inc. gained, with analysts positive about pre-orders for the latest iPhone.
A powerful rally in oil prices has pushed benchmark Brent toward $95 a barrel, highlighting inflationary pressures just as policymakers around the world prepare for interest-rate meetings. The Federal Reserve’s announcement on Wednesday will be followed by those from the Bank of England on Thursday and the Bank of Japan a day later.
“This week will be bumpy,” said Francois Rimeu, a fund manager at La Francaise Asset Management in Paris. “Pretty tough messages are expected from central bankers.”
US Treasury yields ticked higher, with the policy-sensitive two-year rate above 5%.
Monday’s subdued mood in stock markets matched the tone of a note from Morgan Stanley strategists, who said investors have turned more cautious. The team led by Michael Wilson said there’s a growing debate among clients about whether a recession has been avoided or just delayed.
“The majority of investors we’ve spoken with are in the ‘pushed out’ camp and are of the view that 2024 is now looking like a more challenging year for risk assets relative to 2023,” Wilson wrote in a note.
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On the outlook for oil, traders will be monitoring clues on prospects for global supply when Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman addresses an industry conference later Monday. Hedge funds last week boosted their bullish wagers on Brent and US crude to a 15-month high. Brent has gained 11% in three weeks.
Among currencies, the dollar weakened against most of its G-10 peers.
Fed Outlook
A resilient US economy will prompt the Fed to pencil in one more interest-rate hike this year and stay at the peak level next year for longer than previously expected, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.
“A number of Fed speakers have taken a slightly more cautious tone recently, mentioning that risks have become more two-sided and talking of the ability to ‘proceed carefully,’” said Credit Agricole strategists led by Jean-François Paren. “That said, it is far too early to declare victory, and the Fed will want to keep the possibility of further tightening on the table.”
In Asia, a gauge of the region’s shares fell, dragged down by tech names. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 1.4%, while China’s CSI 300 Index erased losses as traders drew support from data last week that pointed to signs of stabilization.
Elsewhere, Chevron Corp. resumed full production from a liquefied natural gas export facility in Australia that suffered a fault last week, even as union members continued strikes at the site. That took some pressure off natural gas prices.
Key events this week:
Apple expected to release the iPhone’s latest operating system, iOS 17, Monday
Reserve Bank of Australia issues minutes of September’s policy meeting, Tuesday
OECD releases interim economic outlook report on the global economy, Tuesday
Eurozone CPI, Tuesday
Bloomberg Future of Finance Conference in Frankfurt, with speakers to include German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Tuesday
ECB Executive Board member Frank Elderson speaks, Tuesday
Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Sharon Kozicki speaks, Tuesday
Japan trade, Wednesday
China loan prime rates, Wednesday
UK CPI, Wednesday
Federal Reserve policy meeting, followed by Chair Jerome Powell’s news conference, Wednesday
Bank of Canada issues summary of September’s policy meeting, Wednesday
Bank of England policy meeting, Thursday
ECB Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel chairs panel, Thursday
ECB chief economist Philip Lane speaks, Thursday
Japan CPI, PMIs, Friday
Bank of Japan rate decision, Friday
Australia PMIs, Friday
China’s Bund Summit, Friday
Eurozone S&P Global Eurozone PMIs, Friday
UK S&P Global / CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI, Friday
ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos speaks, Friday
US S&P Global Manufacturing PMI, Friday
Some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.5% as of 10:11 a.m. London time
S&P 500 futures rose 0.1%
Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.2%
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were little changed
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.6%
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index fell 0.8%
Currencies
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed
The euro was little changed at $1.0663
The Japanese yen rose 0.1% to 147.64 per dollar
The offshore yuan fell 0.2% to 7.2945 per dollar
The British pound was little changed at $1.2381
Cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin rose 1.2% to $26,767.78
Ether rose 1.1% to $1,636.09
Bonds
The yield on 10-year Treasuries advanced one basis point to 4.34%
Germany’s 10-year yield was little changed at 2.68%
Britain’s 10-year yield advanced two basis points to 4.38%
Commodities
Brent crude was little changed
Spot gold rose 0.1% to $1,926.01 an ounce
This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.
–With assistance from Sagarika Jaisinghani and Tassia Sipahutar.
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