Stocks and bonds posted small moves on Thursday as investors grappled with a slew of company reports and prepared for a sale of 30-year US government debt.
Europe’s Stoxx 600 gauge climbed 0.3% on the busiest earnings day of the season. Unilever Plc rallied on better-than-expected sales growth while A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S tumbled more than 13% after predicting the shipping industry will be hit by a slowdown later this year. Futures on the S&P 500 were flat after the underlying index hit a fresh high on Wednesday that took it closer to the 5,000 level.
After successful sales of three- and 10-year bonds, the US Treasury’s latest auction of longer-maturity debt could prove a tougher test of investor appetite. Markets have so far largely shrugged off fears around the commercial real estate sector and absorbed a run of warnings from Fed policy makers that a cut isn’t likely until May at the earliest.
“This week’s government bond auctions have generally been well received, with the latest selloff in rates likely helping the case,” said Evelyne Gomez-Liechti, a multi-asset strategist at Mizuho in London. “Today’s thirty-year Treasuries auction will be the last test of the week.”
The European Central Bank’s Philip Lane and the Fed’s Thomas Barkin are due to speak on Thursday. The yield on 10-year Treasuries was down two basis points at 4.11%.
In Asia, stocks were mixed as mainland Chinese equities fluctuated on the final trading day before the Lunar New Year holidays. China’s CSI 300 Index swung between gains and losses after the nation replaced the head of its securities regulator Wednesday, a surprise move that may foreshadow more forceful steps to support the stock market.
SoftBank Group Corp. surged 11% after reporting its first profit following four straight quarters of losses. Arm Holdings Plc, in which SoftBank owns a stake, had rallied by as much as 38% in after-hours trading in New York after upbeat earnings.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. shares fell around 6.8% in Hong Kong despite the company announcing $25 billion in stock repurchases.
Oil extended a three-day climb. Gold steadied for a second day.
Corporate Highlights:
Key events this week:
Some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
Currencies
Cryptocurrencies
Bonds
Commodities
This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.
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