Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Intu hit by Hammerson withdrawal

Stocks in Europe are higher this morning as the global mood starts to improve. 

There was a strong finish in New York last night and Asia overnight as traders focus more on corporate and economic data. While the Syrian conflict and uncertainty surrounding global trade are on hold, investors could remain bullish.

Hammerson have walked away from the proposed merger with Intu, and stated the weakness in the commercial property sector as a reason for calling off the deal. Last week Klepierre said they are no longer interested in acquiring Hammerson, and it appears that uncertainty about the retail sector is the common theme. Retail centres are experiencing declining footfall due to the rise in online shopping. Profit warnings are at seven-year highs, and this highlights the fragility of the retail sector. Mergers make sense if synergies exist, and if the wider sector is strong, but this isn’t the case in the UK commercial property industry. Shares in Hammerson are up 2.4%, while shares in Intu are down 4%.

Rio Tinto shares are higher this morning after the company issued a strong production update. Iron ore output rose by 5% on an annual basis. The miner has pledged to meet its target of shipping between 300 million and 340 million tons of iron ore this year. Copper production saw a 65% rise on a year-on-year basis, while coal production fell by 30%, with maintenance at the Kestrel mine partially blamed for the decline. The update shows that Rio Tinto is continuing to emerge from the downturn in the commodity sector that took place a few years ago. The solid growth figures from China yesterday also point to steady demand for metal in the foreseeable future.

GBP/USD sold off after UK CPI fell to 2.5% – its lowest reading since April 2017. The cooling of the cost of living has prompted traders to take their profits on the pound, and sterling lost ground yesterday, after posting seven consecutive rallies. The wider upward trend is still in place however, so the medium-term outlook remains intact.

EUR/USD was nudged lower by the eurozone inflation report, which showed the cost of living slipped and missed economists’ expectations. In March, the CPI rate fell to 1.3%, down from 1.4%, and the consensus was for it to remain steady.

In US corporate news, Morgan Stanley release first-quarter results later today.

We are expecting the Dow Jones to open up 14 points at 24,800 and we are calling the S&P 500 up 7 points at 2713.

CMC Markets is an execution-only service provider. The material (whether or not it states any opinions) is for general information purposes only, and does not take into account your personal circumstances or objectives. Nothing in this material is (or should be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by CMC Markets or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

 


Disclaimer: CMC Markets is an execution-only service provider. The material (whether or not it states any opinions) is for general information purposes only, and does not take into account your personal circumstances or objectives. Nothing in this material is (or should be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by CMC Markets or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. The material has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research. Although we are not specifically prevented from dealing before providing this material, we do not seek to take advantage of the material prior to its dissemination.

Before you go…

Try a demo of our Spread Betting or CFD trading accounts on our innovative platform. Free of charge and risk-free with virtual capital starting from €10,000.

cmc-mobile-trading-app