|
Global equities ended lower last week, after oil prices plunged into negative territory and amid uncertainty related to a potential coronavirus treatment.
UK Markets ended the week in negative territory, amid disappointing retail sales data and uncertainty about progress in the treatment for coronavirus.
UK’s average earnings including bonus advanced less than market forecast on an annual basis in February. 
The ILO unemployment rate unexpectedly rose in February.
The retail price index unexpectedly climbed on a monthly basis in March. 
The non-seasonally adjusted output producer price index (PPI) unexpectedly advanced in March.
Consumer price inflation slowed to a three-month low in March.
The DCLG house price index rose less-than-expected on an annual basis in February.
The CBI balance of firms reporting total order book above normal dropped more than market forecast in April.
The Markit manufacturing PMI fell in April, hitting its lowest score since the survey began in January 1992.
The Markit services PMI declined in April, registering its sharpest reduction since the survey began in July 1996.
Public sector net borrowing deficit widened more than market anticipations in March.
Retail sales dropped at its fastest pace in March.
European Markets ended the week on a negative footing, amid lack of clarity regarding the trillion-euro emergency fund agreed by European Union (EU) leaders to contain the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
In the Eurozone, trade surplus widened in February.
Eurozone’s current account surplus widened in February.
In the Eurozone, the ZEW economic sentiment index improved in April.
Eurozone’s consumer confidence index weakened in April, reaching near its record lows seen during the global financial crisis in 2009.
In the Eurozone, the Markit manufacturing PMI declined to a 134-month low level in April.
Eurozone’s Markit services PMI eased more-than-anticipated in April.
Germany’s PPI slid for a second consecutive month in March.
In Germany, the ZEW economic sentiment index rebounded in April, hitting its highest level in nearly five years.
Germany’s ZEW current situation index declined to a 11-year low level in April.
In Germany, the Markit manufacturing PMI fell in April, hitting its lowest level in 133 months.
Germany’s Markit services PMI dropped more than market forecast in April.
In Germany, the GfK consumer confidence index plunged to a historic low level in May.
Germany’s Ifo business climate index declined to a historic low level in April.
The Ifo current assessment index in Germany fell more-than-expected in April.
In Germany, the Ifo business expectations index eased more than market forecast in April.
US Markets ended the week in red, after an experimental drug intended to treat coronavirus failed in its initial clinical trial.
In the US, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index eased in March.
Existing home sales dropped by the most since November 2015 in March.
The housing price index climbed more than market anticipations on a monthly basis in February.
The MBA mortgage applications dropped on a weekly basis in the week ended 17 April 2020.
New home sales slid on a monthly basis in March.
The Markit services PMI declined in April, indicating its most rapid contraction since the series started in October 2009.
The Markit manufacturing PMI declined to a 11-year low level in April.
Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims dropped less-than-expected on a weekly basis in the week ended 17 April 2020.
The Dallas Fed manufacturing business index fell in April.
Durable goods orders declined more than market anticipations in March.
The final Michigan consumer sentiment index dropped in April.
Asian Markets ended weaker last week, amid decline in oil prices and tracking losses in their US counterparts.
Australia’s Westpac leading index dropped in March.
In Australia, the Commonwealth Bank manufacturing PMI fell in April.
Australia’s Commonwealth Bank services PMI unexpectedly eased in April.
In Australia, seasonally adjusted retail sales rose on a monthly basis in March.
In Japan, the preliminary Jibun Bank manufacturing PMI eased in April.
Japan’s final leading economic index advanced less-than-anticipated in February.
In Japan, the national consumer price index (CPI) advanced on a yearly basis in March.
Japan’s corporate service price index rose on an annual basis in March.
In Japan, the unemployment rate rose in line with market expectations in March.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), in its latest monetary policy meeting minutes, indicated that it would not increase the cash rate target until progress is made towards full employment and it is confident that inflation would remain sustainably within the 2%–3% target band. Additionally, the board remained committed to supporting jobs, incomes and businesses. Furthermore, the central bank assured that it would continue to do what was necessary to achieve the three-year yield target. However, the central bank warned that the economy could shrink “significantly” in the June quarter and remain “subdued” through September, due to the coronavirus outbreak
|
