Tesla Lifts Nasdaq Futures; Bitcoin Tops $90,000: Markets Wrap

This content was published on November 18, 2024 - 12:17

5 minutes

(Bloomberg) — US stock futures edged higher as traders awaited fresh pointers on growth and the path of interest rates. Gold advanced and Bitcoin moved past the $90,000 mark.

S&P 500 contracts indicated small gains at the open, while Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.4% as Tesla Inc. shares jumped in premarket trading on speculation Donald Trump’s team will ease self-driving car rules. Gold rose more than 1% after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts predicted the precious metal would hit a record by the end of next year. Bitcoin recovered from its biggest two-day retreat since the US vote.

Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary is in focus this week along with Nvidia Corp. earnings on Wednesday that are set to test the sustainability of AI-led stock gains. While the S&P 500 has given up more than half its rally since Trump’s election win, Morgan Stanley’s Mike Wilson is predicting gains will resume over the longer term.

“It should be a quieter week as the recent relentless wave of US macro and political news flow in theory slows down,” said Jim Reid, Deutsche Bank’s global head of macro and thematic research. “The main story on this front being on potential political appointments for the new Trump administration with Treasury secretary the one creating most interest.”

Morgan Stanley’s Wilson, once considered a prominent bear on Wall Street, sees the S&P 500 ending next year up around 11% from Friday’s close amid improving economic growth and further Fed interest-rate cuts. Goldman Sachs analysts, meanwhile, said gold will reach a record $3,000 an ounce by December 2025 due to central-bank buying and US interest rate cuts.

Bitcoin fell almost 3% over Saturday and Sunday before rising back to $92,000 on Monday morning. Trump has made various pro-crypto pledges, but there are open questions about the timetable for implementation and whether all are feasible — such as setting up a US Bitcoin stockpile.

Inflation, China

In Europe, the Stoxx 600 was down 0.2% amid continued worries about potential US tariffs under the new administration and weakness in China. Eurozone and UK inflation readings due on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, will help investors gauge the outlook for Bank of England and European Central Bank policy. A swathe of officials from the respective institutions are also due to speak.

The Bloomberg dollar index was largely steady after reaching a two-year high last week. The Japanese yen weakened as much as 0.5% to 155.14 against the greenback after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda avoided giving a clear hint that he will raise interest rates at a December meeting.

Oil rebounded, with Brent crude trading near $72 per barrel.

Key events this week:

Group of 20 Summit in Brazil begins, Monday
European Union foreign ministers meet in Brussels, Monday
RBA meeting minutes, Tuesday
Eurozone CPI, Tuesday
Canada CPI, Tuesday
China loan prime rates, Wednesday
Indonesia rate decision, Wednesday
South Africa retail sales, CPI, Wednesday
UK CPI, Wednesday
Nvidia earnings, Wednesday
ECB President Christine Lagarde and Vice President Luis De Guindos speak, Wednesday
ECB issues financial stability review, Wednesday
Fed Governor Lisa Cook, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman speak, Wednesday
BOE Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden speaks, Wednesday
RBA Governor Michele Bullock speaks, Thursday
Japan CPI, Friday
India HSBC Manufacturing & Services PMI, Friday
Eurozone HCOB Manufacturing & Services PMI, Friday
UK retail sales, S&P Global Manufacturing & Services PMI, Friday
US University of Michigan consumer sentiment, S&P Global Manufacturing & Services PMI, Friday