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Global Markets: Equity benchmark indices in the United States were hovering in red, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index plunged by 65.06 points or 0.26% in dayâs session, and trading at 25,414.36, the S&P 500 index contracted by 8.10 points or 0.29% against the previous close and quoting at 2,832.50 and the technology benchmark index Nasdaq decreased by 36.81 points or 0.47% and quoting at 7,737.70 respectively, at the time of writing.
Global News: The Chinese finance ministry on Thursday said the latest round of Tariff imposed by the administration of Donald Trump violated a consensus between the two countries and it would counter the tariff but called on the US to meet halfway to agree on a potential deal. The commerce Department reported that the retail sales in July recorded a higher-than-expected value as retail sales increased 0.7 per cent last month and rose by 3.4 per cent year-on-year, while core retail sales advanced by 1 per cent. After Wall Street yesterday reported its worst day this year, US stock rose on Thursday and the dollar recovered from early weakness, supported by strong retail data.
European Markets: The broader equity benchmark index of the UK, the FTSE 100 index decreased by 80.87 points or 1.13% against the previous closing level to 7,067.01, the FTSE 250 index leapt down by 90.40 points or 0.48% to 18,640.65 and the FTSE All-Share dragged down by 40.04 points or 1.02% and ended the session at 3,865.55 respectively. Another European benchmark index STOXX ended 1.07 points or 0.29% lower to 365.09 respectively.
European News: Going against the wishes of the US and paving the way for a possible return of the British-flagged tanker seized by the Iranian army, Gibraltar decided on Thursday to free the Iranian oil tanker that was detained by the Royal Marines six weeks ago. Even as the British economy contracted in the second quarter, monthly retail sales volumes rose by 0.2 per cent in July, well above the prediction by the market. As investors anticipated cuts in Bank of England interest rates and slower growth, for the first time in record, British 30-year government bond yields fell below 1 per cent.
London Stock Exchange (LSE)
Top Performers Stocks: PLUS (PLUS500 LTD), FGP (FIRSTGROUP PLC) and SOHO (TRIPLE POINT SOCIAL HOUSING REIT PL) are top performers of the day and up by 9.60%, 6.37% and 5.29% respectively.
Top Laggards Stocks: RDL (RDL REALISATION PLC), KAZ (KAZ MINERALS PLC) and KIE (KIER GROUP PLC) are the top three laggards of the day and down by 46.60%, 15.28% and 11.22% respectively.
FTSE 100 Index
FTSE 100 Index Chart: 5-days Price Performance (as on August-15-2019), after the market closed. (Source: Thomson Reuters)
Top Three Risers Stocks: UU. (UNITED UTILITIES GROUP PLC), BATS (BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC) and NG. (NATIONAL GRID PLC) are the top three gainers in todayâs session and up by 1.94%, 1.36% and 0.97% respectively.
Top Three Fallers Stocks: RBS (ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC), JE. (JUST EAT PLC), and PHNX (PHOENIX GROUP HOLDINGS PLC) are top laggards at the FTSE 100 index and down by 10.48%, 5.96% and 5.55% respectively.
Top Three Active Volume Stocks: LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PLC (LLOY), VODAFONE GROUP PLC (VOD), and BP PLC (BP.).
Top Performers Sectors: Utilities (+0.60%) and Consumer Non-Cyclicals (+0.17%).
Top Fallers Sectors: Energy (-2.79%), Financials (-1.56%) and Basic Materials (-1.53%).
Foreign Exchange and Fixed Income
FX Rates (at the time of writing): GBP/USD and EUR/GBP were trading at 1.2113 and 0.9170 respectively.
10-Year Bond Yields (at the time of writing): US 10Y Treasury and UK 10Y Bond yields were exchanging at 1.512% and 0.401% respectively.
