Market Summary by AFORTI: A Week of Uncertainty and Volatility in Global Markets
Macroeconomic situation
In the first week of August 2024, a number of important events took place in global capital and financial markets that influenced investor sentiment. Macroeconomic data and central bank decisions shaped the markets. At the beginning of the week, we saw further panic in the financial markets which, as time passed, slowly calmed down in an attempt to bring the situation in the markets back to normal.
Europe
- Germany: German industrial orders were higher than expected. Industrial orders: value for June: 3.9%, forecast: 0.5%, previous: -1.7% (revised from -1.6%). German industrial production came in stronger than expected on a monthly basis, showing growth of 1.4% m/m for June, against expectations of 1.0% m/m. The previous figure was a decline of 3.1% m/m.
- Eurozone: The PMI for services in Europe continued its decline, indicating deepening difficulties in the service sector. This could influence further economic weakness in the region. Eurozone services PMI (for July): value: 51.9, forecast: 51.9, previous: 52,8.
- Retail sales: retail sales in the euro area came in weaker than expected, further indicating economic difficulties and a possible slowdown in consumption. Eurozone retail sales (y/y): value for June: -0.3%, forecast: 0.2%, previous: 0.5% (revised).
USA
- Foreign trade deficit: higher than expected. US foreign trade balance in June: value: -$73.1 billion, forecast: -$72.5 billion, previous: -$75.1 billion.
- ISM index: ISM index for services returns above 50 points. ISM index for services:51.4 (expected: 51; previous: 48.8).
Foreign exchange market
The zloty weakened between 05 and 09 August. The EUR/PLN exchange rate oscillated between 4.30 and 4.32, while the USD/PLN exchange rate oscillated between 3.93 and 3.96.
Oil and gold market
Brent crude oil prices from 05 - 09 August remained in the USD 77.22-79.55 per barrel range, indicating a rising market. Gold prices fell slightly from USD 2,483 to USD 2,469 per ounce.
Stock Exchange
The WIG on 05 - 09 August recorded an increase of around 1,500 points, ending the session at 79,603 points with a weekly turnover of 6,811,780,072. It was a week of high volatility on the WSE.
Summary
The first week of August 2024 brought numerous negative signals from the global economy, especially in Europe and Japan. German manufacturing data were weaker than expected and the Eurozone PMI continued its decline. In the US, the situation was more mixed, with the service sector showing signs of recovery, but the trade deficit widened. Investors are watching developments with concern, which has contributed to a global sell-off in equity markets. It seems that the period of global panic and sell-off is slowly behind us and the situation in the markets is slowly calming down.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
AFORTI.BIZ