Archives of “April 16, 2020” day
rssWhite House: G7 leaders agree to remain committed to global response to coronavirus
White House comments regarding G7 leaders
- G7 leaders agreed to remain committed to global response to humanitarian, economic calamity stemming from pandemic and to launch a strong and sustainable recovery
- leaders called for a thorough review and reform process that World Health Organization
- much of G7 leaders call centered on lack of transparency and chronic mismanagement of the pandemic by the World Health Organization
- G7 leaders discussed efforts to pool research on coronavirus by sharing data and making it publicly available
European shares close with mostly modest gains
German Dax up 0.5%
The European shares are closing with mostly modest gains as Germany works toward the reopening of the economy.
The provisional closes are showing:
- German DAX up 0.5% . The low reached -0.42%
- France’s CAC up 0.2%. The low reach -0.80%
- UK’s FTSE 100 up 0.8%. The low reached -0.35%
- Spain’s Ibex up 0.3%. The low reached -1.56%
- Italy’s FTSE MIB up 0.7%. The low reached +0.06%
In the European debt market, the benchmark 10 year yields are ending with declines across the board, with the Italian yields falling the most at -3.9 basis points.

In other markets as London/European traders look to exit shows:
- spot gold up $10.28 or 0.60% at $1727.37
- WTI crude oil futures are trading up $0.22 or 1.11% at $20.10
Elliott Management says stocks could ultimately fall 50% from Feb levels
Paul Singer’s fund sends bearish letter

Vulture fund manager Paul Singer’s Elliott Management sent a letter to clients yesterday saying stocks could ultimately fall 50% from Feb levels. That would target 1700 in the S&P 500.
Singer is a legendary distressed debt manager and extremely combative market participant. He’s also been wildly successful, including winning a lawsuit against Argentina’s government on defaulted debt. His firm manages $40 billion.
“Our gut tells us that a 50% or deeper decline from the February top might be the ultimate path of global stock markets,” the letter said.
That said, they have bought some “shining bargains” in bonds and stocks.
More at Reuters.
Switzerland outlines plans to slowly re-open
Swiss government outlines plans for what’s next
- Doctors, hairdressers, massage and cosmetic parlours can reopen April 27
- Obligatory schools, stores and markets reopening on May 11
- Expands financial support to cover more self-employed people such as taxi drivers
- Non-obligatory schools, universities, museums, zoos and libraries to reopen on June 8
- Easing of restrictions to be accompanied by protective measures and obligation to wear masks is possible
- Relaxation of restrictions hinges on no significant rise in new COVID-19 cases
- Vulnerable people should stay at home
The big question for the rest of the year is how well this will work and how many cases/deaths are ‘tolerable’.
OPEC says April oil demand to fall 12 mbpd, Q2 to be -12 mbpd. Risks to the downside
OPEC forecasts
- Cuts 2020 world oil demand forecast by 6.9 mbpd
- Says April demand to contract by 20 mbpd
- Q2 demand to be down by around 12 mbpd
- 2020 non-OPEC supply is forecast to decline by 1.5 mbpd
- Downward risks in oil demand forecast remain significant, suggesting possibility of further adjustments
These numbers are fanciful and the comment about downward adjustments is the important one. US gasoline demand as down nearly 50% in the weekly EIA report. WTI is chopping around $20.20.
S&P 100 market capitalization as a percentage of S&P 500 capitalization.
In the next two weeks, companies representing 66% of the capitalization of the S&P 500 publish results.
$89 NY-Shanghai gold premium
Nikkei 225 closes lower by 1.33% at 19,290.20
japanese stocks end the day softer after the drop in Wall Street yesterday
Asian equities are trading more mixed with the Hang Seng down by 0.8% while the Shanghai Composite is up by 0.1% ahead of the closing stages. The turnaround in US futures is also helping the risk mood a little but it isn’t really changing things all too much in FX.
The dollar is still leading the charge, with USD/JPY keeping higher by around 0.4% just under 108.00 ahead of European trading.