US Markets: Broader indexes in the United States were trading in green, with the S&P 500 index traded 2.21 points or 0.07% higher at 3,223.50, Dow Jones Industrial Average Index accelerated by 16.45 points or 0.06% and quoting at 28,478.59 and the technology benchmark index Nasdaq Composite traded higher at 8,957.95 and was up by 11.96 points or 0.13% against its previous day close (at the time of writing, before the U.S market close at ET 10:00 AM).
Global News: On 31st December 2019, Worldwide equities floated, while the dollar finished 2019 on a stifled note following a light year of stock market gains, driven lately by any expectations of a fast approaching U.S.- China economic agreement. Bourses in Asia likewise separated. China terrain stocks (CSI300) (SSEC) increased 0.4% after information indicated fabricating movement on the planet's second biggest economy extended for a second consecutive month in December. U.S. futures contracts for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and NASDAQ were slightly higher towards the beginning of the day, subsequent to completing lower during yesterday's Wall Street session. S&P closed the decade with a substantial return of about 190%. European shares declined, alongside most Asian markets, as slender volume kept on burdening stocks towards the finish of what's shaping up have been a particularly productive year for the individuals who stayed in the business sectors after 2018's Q4 selloff.
S&P 500 (SPX)
Elite Performers*: Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc, Xylem Inc and Walmart Inc were in the bright spot and expanded by 0.18 per cent, 0.17 per cent and 0.08 per cent respectively.
Worst Performers*: Cimarex Energy Co, Western Union Co, and Williams and Companies Inc are the top three laggards and reduced by 1.25 per cent, 0.52 per cent and 0.43 per cent respectively.
NASDAQ Composite (IXIC)
Top Three Performers of the Day*: Neovasc Inc, Inpixon, and FuelCell Energy Inc are top gainers and surged by 87.59 per cent, 49.54 per cent and 25.60 per cent respectively.
Worst Three Performers of the Day*: Unico American Corp, Eyegate Pharmaceuticals Inc, and Cassava Sciences Inc are the top laggards and reduced by 16.43 per cent, 16.39% per cent and 9.97 per cent respectively.
Top Two Performing Sectors of the Day*: Basic Materials (up 0.04%) and Utilities (up 0.01%).
Worst Three Performing Sectors of the Day*: Technology (down 0.38%), Energy (down 0.32%) and Consumer Cyclicals (down 0.27%).
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI)
Elite Performers*: Walmart Inc, Caterpillar Inc, and Verizon Communications Inc were in the bright spot and zoomed up by 0.06 per cent, 0.05 per cent and 0.03 per cent respectively.
Worst Performers*: Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc, and Merck and Co Inc were the beaten down stocks and dipped by 0.67 per cent, 0.64 per cent and 0.58 per cent respectively.
European Markets: The London’s broader equity benchmark index FTSE 100 closed at 44.61 points or 0.59% lower at 7,542.44, the FTSE 250 index closed at 52.84 points or 0.24% lower at 21,883.42, and the FTSE All-Share Index closed at 21.35 points or 0.51% lower at 4,196.47 respectively. Another European equity benchmark index STOXX 600 closed at 415.84, down by 0.33 points or 0.08 per cent.
European News: In economic news, the British government has today announced that it will raise the minimum wages of the country by 6 percent in the year 2020, bringing it to 8.74 pounds per hour. On the subject, Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement that people in the United Kingdom for long haven’t seen a pay raise and that now they deserve it. In other news, the FTSE 100 fell for the second day straight today on account of year end profit booking by traders on the London Stock Exchange. In business news, Employees of the South Western Railway franchise have threatened a fresh strike staring in February 2020 on its long-standing dispute with the management on the issue of guards on trains belonging to the company.
London Stock Exchange
Elite Performers of the Day: TI FLUID SYSTEMS PLC (TIFS), SCHRODER UK PUBLIC PRIVATE TST PLC (SUPP) and PORVAIR PLC (PRV) were on the bright spot and up by 7.26%, 6.53% and 5.70% respectively.
Worst Performers: RAVEN PROPERTY GROUP LIMITED (RAV), ROBERT WALTERS PLC (RWA) and MIDDLEFIELD CANADIAN INC PCC (MCT) were the beaten down stocks and plunged by 4.90%, 4.14% and 3.85% respectively.
FTSE 100 Index
Price performance in last 5 days (FTSE-100 chart as on December 31, 2019), after the market closed. (Source: Thomson Reuters (TR))
Performers of the Day: EVRAZ PLC (EVR), JD SPORTS FASHION PLC (JD.), and MEGGITT PLC (MGGT) were shinning and leapt up by 1.08%, 0.62% and 0.58% respectively.
Laggards of the Day: NMC HEALTH PLC (NMC), PEARSON PLC (PSON), and SAINSBURY(J) PLC (SBRY) were hammered and contracted by 2.73%, 2.18% and 1.92% respectively.
Volume Gainers: LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PLC (LLOY), VODAFONE GROUP PLC (VOD), and BP PLC (BP.).
Worst Performing Sectors of the Day: Utilities (down 1.12%), Telecommunications Services (down 0.99%), and Healthcare (down 0.86%).
Currency Exchange Rate*: GBP/USD and EUR/GBP were hovering at 1.3267 and 0.8462, respectively.
US and UK 10-Year Bond Yields*: U.S 10-Year Treasuries yield was quoting at 1.914%, and the UK 10-Year Government Bond yield was trading at 0.823%, respectively.
*At the time of writing
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