Stocks on world indexes and Treasury yields climbed yesterday, while the dollar fell to a two-week low as political tensions in Europe eased.
Italy’s anti-establishment parties formed a coalition government on Friday to end three months of political deadlock.
Italian bond yields fell after soaring last week on fears a snap election would be called that might effectively become a referendum on euro membership.
The spread on Spanish bond yields over benchmark German Bunds also narrowed after a new prime minister was sworn in Madrid, though Socialist Pedro Sanchez’s minority administration faces a tough baptism from a revived independence drive in Catalonia.
US Treasury yields rose as investors pared their safe-haven holdings of lower-risk government debt amid reduced anxiety about the political turmoil in Italy and Spain.
Benchmark 10-year notes last fell 6/32 in price to yield 2.9168 per cent, from 2.895 per cent late on Friday. The dollar index fell 0.13 per cent, with the euro up 0.21 per cent to $1.1685.
Lingering trade disputes will also contribute to a challenging backdrop for the US dollar in the weeks ahead, he added.
US stocks rose yesterday led by gains in technology shares and helped by Friday’s robust jobs data, which gave investors heightened confidence that the U.S. economy remained strong.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 174.7 points, or 0.71 per cent, to 24,809.91, the S&P 500 gained 8.01 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 2,742.63 and the Nasdaq Composite added 25.92 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 7,580.25.
MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.54 per cent. European shares rose 0.22 per cent.
While the risk of political crisis receded in Europe, concerns over a possible global trade war rumbled on in the background.
Finance ministers of the closest US allies vented their anger on Saturday over Washington’s imposition of metal import tariffs, setting the tone for a heated G7 summit in Quebec.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week plays host to a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations with six of the seven members outraged at the United States over a slew of recent moves by President Trump.
Mr Trudeau, who wants the June 8-9 meeting to focus on economic growth, insists he can handle the challenge, though insiders and analysts say he will have to fight to keep the grouping together at a time when Mr Trump’s trade and diplomatic moves have isolated the United States and risk undermining the G7’s relevance.
In the oil market, United States crude fell 1.46 per cent to $64.85 per barrel and Brent was last at $75.46, down 1.73 per cent on the day.