Stocks Rise on Central Bank Backstop; Euro Falls to Six-Week Low
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(Bloomberg) — Stocks rose around the world on speculation central banks will do what’s needed, including weakening their currencies, to bolster their economies.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced for a seventh day, climbing 1.3 percent at 10:47 a.m. in London. Carmakers gained amid the fastest sales growth since 2009 and zinc headed for its longest winning streak in more than a year. The euro fell to a six-week low versus the dollar and Treasuries declined with German bunds.
The European Central Bank meets in Frankfurt and investors will be assessing President Mario Draghi’s stance on support measures for Greece after the country’s parliament endorsed a fresh set of austerity measures. Euro-area finance ministers agreed in principle to extend a 7 billion-euro ($7.6 billion) bridge loan to Greece, said an official familiar with the decision. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Citigroup Inc. and EBay Inc. are among companies posting earnings on Thursday after Netflix Inc. reported a surge in subscribers on Wednesday.
“Greece supports the QE program in Europe for longer — the central bank backstop will ensue,” said Daniel Weston, chief investment officer of Aimed Capital in Munich, Germany. “A rate rise in the U.S. is all but certain in the coming quarters, helping to drive the euro down and benefiting the export economies. I’m optimistic regarding the economic recovery in Europe.”
The Stoxx 600 has rebounded 8.7 percent in its longest winning streak since January on optimism over a resolution of the Greek crisis. Renault SA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV led gains in carmakers.
Standard & Poor’s 500 Index E-mini futures expiring in September rose 0.4 percent after the gauge ended little changed on Wednesday. It closed 1.1 percent below a record in May.
Alfa Laval AB jumped 7.6 percent after the Swedish manufacturer reported better-than-estimated second-quarter profit on demand for marine equipment and service orders. Swatch Group AG added 5 percent after posting first-half profit that beat analysts’ estimates and forecasting a strong end to the year.
Netflix jumped 12 percent in early New York trading. Intel Corp. climbed 2 percent in Germany after the biggest maker of semiconductors forecast third-quarter sales that may exceed analysts’ predictions.
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index rose for the first time in three days, advancing 0.3 percent. A gauge of 10-day price swings was near the highest level since July 2013.
Chinese shares also rebounded after a two-day decline, with the Shanghai Composite Index adding 0.5 percent and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of mainland companies listed in Hong Kong rose 0.6 percent. A total of 673 stocks were halted on mainland exchanges, or about 23 percent of all listings.
The euro dropped against 13 of its 16 major counterparts, slipping 0.4 percent to $1.0906. It touched 69.69 British pence, the weakest level since November 2007. The 19-nation shared currency slipped 0.3 percent to 135.16 yen.
New Zealand’s dollar slumped as weak dairy prices spurred speculation the central bank will lower interest rates. The kiwi fell to 64.99 U.S. cents, its lowest level since July 30, 2009. The currency sank as much as 2 percent Wednesday after whole milk powder prices declined more than 10 percent at a fortnightly auction.
Treasuries slipped, pushing the 10-year note yield two basis points higher to 2.37 percent after it fell five basis points on Wednesday when Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signaled the pace of interest-rate increases starting later this year will be gradual.
Bonds in Europe were little changed, with Spanish and Italian securities bringing to an end a run of seven successive days’ gains.
Zinc rose for a seventh day, adding 0.2 percent. Copper climbed 0.8 percent and nickel rose 1.4 percent.
Gold held declines after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the U.S. is on track to raise its main interest rate this year as the economy strengthens further. Bullion for immediate delivery fell 0.3 percent to $1,145.70 an ounce. Silver dropped 0.5 percent.
Oil advanced from a three-month low as U.S. stockpiles fell more than analysts forecast amid record-high refinery runs. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.4 percent to $51.62 a barrel. Brent was up 0.2 percent at $57.14.
Nationwide inventories declined as refiners used the most crude in weekly data since 1989. Oil also rose on analyst predictions that the full impact of higher Iranian exports won’t be felt until 2016 as the nuclear deal is implemented.
–With assistance from Emma O’Brien in Wellington, Fion Li in Hong Kong and Cecile Vannucci, Sofia Horta e Costa, Neil Denslow and Amanda Jordan in London.
To contact the reporters on this story: Nick Gentle in Hong Kong at ngentle2@bloomberg.net; Stephen Kirkland in London at skirkland@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stephen Kirkland at skirkland@bloomberg.net; Paul Dobson at pdobson2@bloomberg.net Paul Dobson
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