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US stock futures increase after Asia sells on China disappointment

U.S. stock futures climbed on Friday and the euro was raised by a rise in European bond yields, after Asian shares dropped as an absence of information about Chinese stimulus disappointed investors.

Futures for the U.S. S&P 500 increased 0.37%, after the index dipped on Thursday. The S&P struck a record high on Dec. 6 on optimism about the second Trump presidency, which looks set to focus on deregulation and tax cuts.

Europe's STOXX 600 equity index fell 0.29% after slipping a little the previous day.

Britain's FTSE 100 was flat and France's CAC 40 was up 0.13%, barely budging after President Emmanuel Macron named Francois Bayrou as his 4th prime minister of 2024.

Markets are still positive about a rate cut from the Federal Reserve next week. Data on U.S. producer costs came out a little hotter than anticipated in November due to a 50% jump in egg prices.

In my viewpoint, there suffices concern on inflation not to cut next week, but the Fed does not like to supply big surprises to markets this near the event, said Jim Reid at Deutsche Bank.

Nevertheless, futures imply long shot of a move in January, with just 2 more easings priced in to 3.8% by end-2025.

Both China's blue chip stocks and Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost more than 2% after the Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) did not provide details on brand-new stimulus steps.

Leading policymakers in Beijing vowed to increase debt and lift usage but failed to boost Chinese equities.

Authorities are girding for more trade tensions with the U.S. as Donald Trump's return to power techniques, moistening growth expectations and helping push Chinese bond yields to their most significant weekly fall because April 2018, at 18 basis points . Bond yields move inversely to costs.

Jian Chang, chief China financial expert at Barclays, said the CEWC likely dissatisfied markets, as a Dec. 9 Politburo statement had raised hopes of more aggressive easing.

We maintain our view that incremental and reactive policy is more likely than pre-emptive and 'bazooka' policy, she stated.

CURRENCY SWINGS

The euro climbed 0.45% on Friday to $1.0514,. clawing back a few of its recent losses as European bond yields. rose compared to those in the U.S. in the wake of the European. Reserve bank's rate cut on Thursday.

The euro stayed down around 0.5% for the week, nevertheless. Rate reductions from Switzerland, Canada and the ECB today. have burnished the appeal of relatively higher U.S. interest. rates and have boosted the dollar.

The dollar index was down 0.16% on Friday at 106.8. however has actually increased around 0.8% across the week.

The 10-year criteria bond yield has increased 17. bps today while 30-year yields rose 22 bps,. the greatest weekly increase in more than a year.

The Indonesian rupiah hit a four-month low on Friday. and the reserve bank had to step in consistently to shore it up. India's reserve bank was seen offering dollars via state banks to. support the rupee, which is near record lows.

The dollar was up 0.5% against the Japanese yen at. 153.45 yen. It has actually risen around 2.2% today as markets scaled. back the opportunity of a rate hike from the Bank of Japan next week. to simply 22%. Sources stated the BOJ is leaning towards keeping. rates constant.

Oil prices ticked greater on Friday however were set for a weekly. gain of around 3%. Gold gained 1.5% this week to $2,673. per ounce, still some range from its record of $2,790.

(source: Reuters)