Investors Like Technology Disruptors on ASX:  ALU and APX

US Markets: Broader indices in the United States traded in red - particularly, the S&P 500 index traded 24.14 points or 0.75 per cent lower at 3,202.42, Dow Jones Industrial Average Index contracted by 142.53 points or 0.53 per cent lower at 26,727.57, and the technology benchmark index Nasdaq Composite traded lower at 10,396.43, down by 154.06 points or 1.46 per cent against the previous day close (at the time of writing, before the U.S market close at 11:50 AM ET).

US Market News: The Wall Street plummeted on Thursday with an increase in the coronavirus cases. US retail sales jumped 7.5 percent in June with the reopening of the stores and restaurants. Among the gaining stocks, Morgan Stanley rose over 1.6 percent after posting stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings. Similarly, Domino's Pizza gained close to 1.2 percent after stating better than expected earnings in the latest quarter. Among the declining stocks, American Airlines Group plunged over 6.2 percent after giving 20,000 job cut warning. Walt Disney shed close 1.4 percent due to fears regarding the second wave of the pandemic. Johnson & Johnson fell slightly about 0.9 percent despite boosting full-year profit guidance.

S&P 500 (SPX)

Top Three Performers*: Hartford Financial Services (HIG), Linde Plc (LIN), and Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) stocks jumped by 3.59 per cent, 3.22 per cent and 2.89 per cent, respectively.

Non Performers*: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), Carnival Corp (CCL) and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) shares decreased by 10.54 per cent, 8.01 per cent and 6.68 per cent, respectively.

NASDAQ Composite (IXIC)

Elite Three Performers*: InnerWorkings Inc (INWK), Lion Group Holding Ltd (LGHL) and AC Immune SA (ACIU) shares traded in the green zone and expanded by 120.83 per cent, 83.04 per cent and 64.67 per cent, respectively.

Worst Three Performers*: Tricida Inc (TCDA), CLPS Inc (CLPS) and Atreca Inc (BCEL) shares contracted by 35.86 per cent, 27.54 per cent and 16.67 per cent, respectively.

Top Performing Sectors*: Utilities (+0.38 per cent) and Consumer Non-Cyclicals (+0.24 per cent).

Top Worst Sectors*: Energy (-1.48 per cent), Consumer Cyclicals (-1.10 per cent), and Technology (-0.99 per cent).

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI)

Best Three Performers*: UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH), Travelers Companies Inc (TRV) and Home Depot Inc (HD) shares were in bright spot and surged by around 2.07 per cent, 0.97 per cent and 0.61 per cent, respectively.

Worst Three Performers*: Boeing Co (BA), Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) and Walt Disney Co (DIS) shares plunged by 2.85 per cent, 1.93 per cent and 1.70 per cent, respectively.

European Markets: The London’s broader equity benchmark index FTSE 100 traded at 41.96 points or 0.67 per cent lower at 6,250.69, the FTSE 250 index snapped at 99.26 points or 0.57 per cent lower at 17,321.29, and the FTSE All-Share Index ended 22.23 points or 0.64 per cent lower at 3,454.00, respectively. Another European index STOXX 600 decreased by 1.74 points or 0.47 per cent, at 372.13. Among other major European indices, CAC 40 index decreased by 23.70 points or 0.46 per cent and ended the trading session at 5,085.28; DAX index closed the session at 12,874.97, down by 56.01 points or 0.43 per cent.

European News: : London and European markets tumbled over escalating coronavirus cases and an unexpected drop in China’s retail sales. Meanwhile, UK job losses slowed down since June’s drop was close to 74,000 compared to the plunge of 450,000 in April. Among the gaining stocks, CRH PLC rose over 2.5 percent after re-issue of treasury shares. Also, SSE PLC gained over 2.3 percent after posting a trading statement. Among the declining stocks, GVC Holdings dropped around 6.0 percent after unveiling the retirement of Kenny Alexander (Chief Executive Officer) after 13 years at the helm. Similarly, Hays dipped by over 4.3 percent after giving profit warning due to fee income slump. Also, Anglo American shed about 2.5 percent post reporting an 18 percent decline in second-quarter output.

London Stock Exchange

Top Three Performers*: AMIGO HOLDINGS PLC (AMGO), OXFORD BIOMEDICA PLC (OXB) and ABERFORTH SPLIT LEVEL INCOME (ASIT) accelerated significantly by 27.07 per cent, 7.19 per cent and 6.95 per cent, respectively.

Worst Performers*: CARD FACTORY PLC (CARD), MITIE GROUP PLC (MTO) and JPMORGAN CHINA GROWTH & INCOME PLC (JCGI) plunged by 8.66 per cent, 7.92 per cent and 5.89 per cent, respectively.

FTSE 100 Index Performance

3 months FTSE 100 Index Performance (16 July 2020), before the market close (Source: Refinitiv, Thomson Reuters)

Best three Gainers*: INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL GROUP (LON:ICP), WPP PLC (LON:WPP) & SSE PLC (LON:SSE) leapt up by 2.62 per cent, 2.39 per cent and 2.27 per cent, respectively.

Non Performers*: MELROSE INDUSTRIES PLC (LON:MRO), SMITH & NEPHEW PLC (LON: SN.) and GVC HOLDINGS PLC (LON:GVC) traded in the red zone and decreased by 3.67 per cent, 3.16 per cent and 3.00 per cent, respectively.

Stocks traded with decent volume*: (LLOY) LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PLC; (VOD) VODAFONE PLC; (BARC) BARCLAYS PLC.

Top Sectors traded in the positive zone*: Utilities (+0.88 per cent), Telecommunications Services (+0.65 per cent), and Basic Materials (+0.00 per cent).

Top Sectors traded in the negative zone*: Consumer Non-Cyclicals (-0.73 per cent), Energy (-0.58 per cent), and Technology (-0.48 per cent).

Crude Oil Future Prices*: WTI crude oil (future) price and Brent future crude oil (future) price were hovering at $40.95 per barrel and $43.64 per barrel, respectively.

Forex Rates*: GBP to USD and EUR to GBP were trading at 1.2593 and 0.9084, respectively.

Bond Yields*: U.S 10-Year Treasury yield and UK 10-Year Government Bond yield were tilting at 0.607 per cent and 0.132 per cent, respectively.

*At the time of writing