European Markets Will Focus On: the G-20 Meeting Summit Held in European Stock Commentary P
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A Eurex publication focused on European financial markets, produced by Commodity Research Bureau E u r o p e a n M a r k e t Outlook Preview for the week of November 17, 2008 CONTENT This week, European markets will focus on: The G-20 meeting summit held in European Stock Commentary p. 2 • reaction to the outcome of the two- Washington D.C. over the past week- day Group of 20 (G-20) summit in end did not produce any major surprises. European Interest Rates p. 2 Washington D.C. over the weekend, Nevertheless, it was encouraging that the • the interbank lending situation which leaders of countries representing 90% of Economic Trading Calendar p. 3 continues to improve with the 3-month world GDP sat down together to focus on Euribor rate dropping to a 16-month the world's economic problems. That may Eurex Closing Prices p. 5 low, although interbank lending is still raise the priority level for trying to solve far from normal, intractable problems such as global financial • the increased chance for another 50 bp regulation, harmonized global accounting rate cut by the European Central Bank standards, free trade, currency issues, and (ECB) at its next meeting on December more appropriate support for developing the second half of 2009 from what is likely 4 after last week's Q3 GDP reports put countries from agencies such as the IMF to be a rough first half. both Germany and the Euro-Zone into and the World Bank. the technical definition of a recession, The ECB is scrambling to prop up the • the European equity markets which fell As expected, Q3 Euro-Zone GDP con- Euro-Zone economy. We now know that to a 2-week low last week but fared tracted -0.2% q/q for the second straight when the ECB raised its refi rate by 25 better than the U.S. S&P 500 which fell quarter, putting the Euro-Zone into a reces- continued p. 2 to a 5½-year low, sion for the first time since the introduction • the European bond markets as the of the euro currency in 1999. Europe's Grow with the top 50! 10-year German bund yield fell to a economy is suffering from multiple shocks, 2½-year low on prospects for further including the credit crisis and the after- Trade futures on the Dow Jones European economic weakness and ECB effects from last summer's rise in the euro EURO STOXX 50® Index. rate cuts, to a record $1.60 and the surge in crude Benefit from Europe’s leading • the euro which continues to trade on oil prices to an all-time high of $147 a index. a weak note just above its recent 2½- barrel. Euro-Zone GDP is likely to show a year low as dollar demand remains significant decline in Q4 when the credit strong and as the market expects fur- crisis reached full stride. The European ther ECB rate cuts, and Commission is still hoping that full-year www.eurexchange.com • crude oil prices which plunged to a 21- Euro-Zone GDP in 2009 can average month low on global recession fears. +0.1% as the economy slowly improves in Copyright 2008 © Commodity Research Bureau. All Rights Reserved. www.barchartinc.com 1 European Market Outlook, November 17-21, 2008 bp to 4.25% in early July, the Euro-Zone spot Euribor rate last week fell 25 bp to a October Bank of France business sentiment economy was already in a recession. The 16-month low of 4.22%, which is 74 bp index (expected -2 to a 15-year low of 85). ECB in July was fixated on perceived infla- below the 4.96% level that prevailed prior tion threats and thought the Euro-Zone to the credit crisis but still 26 bp above the Tuesday brings several appearances by ECB economy would pick up in the second half 3.96% level that should theoretically prevail Council members. of 2008. Instead, the worst financial crisis following the ECB's overall 100 bp rate cut. since the Great Depression emerged to sink The implied yield on the March 2009 Eurex Wednesday brings comments by ECB the Euro-Zone economy in the second half EURIBOR Futures contract last Friday closed Council member Miguel Angel Fernandez of 2008. The ECB has so far cut its 2-week at 2.855%, falling by 15 bp on the week Ordonez in Spain. refinancing rate by a total of 100 bp to to a level that is now 39.5 bp below the 3.25%. However, the ECB's refi rate is still ECB's 2-week refinancing rate of 3.25%. Thursday brings October German producer 225 bp above the U.S. Federal Reserve's According to overnight indexed swap rates, prices (expected -0.7% m/m and +7.3% 1.00% federal funds target. the market expects the ECB to cut the 2- y/y). week refinancing rate by 50 bp at the next Short-term Rate Indications—Interbank meeting December 4 and by a total of 100 Friday brings (1) October French consumer lending rates have fallen steadily for the bp to 2.25% by February 2009. spending (expected +0.9% y/y) and (2) the past five weeks as the paralysis in the credit European PMI manufacturing and service markets continues to ease. The 3-month Economic Calendar—Monday brings the indexes. European Stock Commentary European stock markets this week will Futures closed 4.3% lower on the week. still reluctant to lend to each other, and focus on (1) the extent of and duration The Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50® also fell (4) earnings disappointments and sharp of the recession now engulfing the Euro- to a 2-week low last Thursday and closed downward revisions in earnings estimates Zone economy, (2) interbank lending rates 5.5% lower on the week. The December for 2009. which continue to decline although fund- Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50® Futures con- ing for corporations remains difficult, (3) tract closed 5.3% lower on the week. Bullish factors included (1) comments from the sell-off in crude oil to a 21-month low ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet that the which should begin to help consumers and Bearish factors for European stocks last ECB's "considerable" policy actions will businesses, and (4) the winding down of week included (1) the recessionary Q3 GDP help restore confidence in the Euro-Zone, the Q3 earnings reporting season and the data and the recognition that the situation (2) the unexpected gain in French Q3 GDP prospects for Q4 and 2009 earnings. will be worse in Q4, (2) the 15% decline (+0.1 versus expectations of -0.1%), and in European car sales in October, the sixth (3) the drop in the 3-month Euribor rate to Germany’s DAX® Index dropped to a 2- straight monthly decline, (3) comments a 16-month low of 4.22% which indicated week low last Thursday and ended 4.6% from ECB Executive Board member Lorenzo that the U.S. and European banking crisis is lower on the week. December DAX® Bini Smaghi that commercial banks are receding. European Interest Rates European interest rate markets this week (4) the stimulative effect on the economy yield fell to a 2½-year low last Thursday, will focus on (1) the continued deteriora- of the recent plunge in crude oil prices to a but closed only 0.5 bp lower on the week tion in the Euro-Zone economy which 21-month low and commodity prices to a at 3.675%. The shorter end of the yield could pressure European stock prices and 2½-year low. curve extended its rally with December boost demand for European bonds, (2) 5-year Euro-Bobl Futures prices posting a continued dovish comments from ECB December Euro-Bund Futures last week contract high last Friday and closing +0.53 Council members hinting at further rate extended the month-long rally to a new points on the week. December 2-year cuts, (3) the extent of weakness in the contract high and closed 0.80 points higher Euro-Schatz Futures prices rallied to a con- European and global economic data, and on the week. The 10-year German Bund tract high last Friday and closed the week 2 European Market Outlook, November 17-21, 2008 up 0.34 points. September Euro-Zone industrial produc- the ECB room for additional expansionary tion (-2.4% y/y), which represented the measures." Bullish factors for Euro-Bund prices largest annual decline in 6½ years, (4) the last week included (1) the weakness in decline in October German wholesale price Bearish factors included (1) the unexpected European stocks last week, which prompted growth to a 14-month low of +3.6% y/y, gain in the October German ZEW economic additional cash flows from stocks to bonds, (5) comments from ECB Council member sentiment index (+9.5 to -53.5), and (2) (2) the drop in the December Euro-Zone Athanasios Orphanides that he expects the the ECB's new program of accepting col- Sentix investor confidence index to its ECB to issue "much more pessimistic" eco- lateral denominated in currencies other than lowest level since the series began in July nomic growth forecasts next month, and euros in an effort make it easier for banks 2002 (-8.6 to -36.4), indicating the extent (6) comments from ECB Council member to obtain ECB funding and boost liquidity in of investor concern about the credit crisis, Ewald Nowotny that "inflation expectations the banking system.