MILANO – European stock exchanges closed weak in the last session of the week. The first preliminary data on the performance of the main economies of the continent in the first quarter have been driving the mood of the markets since the morning. And if the Italian figure, -0.4% on the previous quarter, confirmed the expectations of the eve, disappointed those of Germany and France. Berlin marks a -1.7% compared to the previous quarter (-3% trend) against the -1.5% expected, while Paris falls by 0.4% compared to an expected -0.2%. The overall figure recorded by Eurostat was slightly better than expected, with GDP down by 1.8% on a trend basis and by 0.6% compared to the previous quarter.
The lists of the Old Continent therefore mark an uncertain closing. Milano it lags behind with a negative balance of 0.56%. London it is the only positive (+ 0.13%) while Frankfurt slips by 0.01% e Paris 0.54%. Eni declines in Piazza Affari after the quarterly accounts published today; Tim instead did well after the news that Cdp will rise to 60% in Open Fiber.
Wall Street proceeds down in the middle of the morning. The market is taking a break after a series of strong quarterly reports and good macro data. The Dow Jones lost 0.78% to 33,793 points, the S&P 500 0.69% to 4,182 and the Nasdaq 0.52% to 14,009. Despite today’s declines, the Dow Jones and S&P 500 are set to close the third consecutive month up, while for the Nasdaq the list is about to climb to six. The Asian lists all moved down, on the last day of trading before a stop for holidays that will extend until next Wednesday which will affect the Chinese lists and Tokyo, which today closed down at -0.83%.
Important data also comes from USA, where personal income recorded a record jump in March: + 21.1% monthly. This is the strongest leap forward since 1959, driven by the reopening and the $ 1.9 trillion stimulus package the Biden administration wanted to fight the pandemic, which included a $ 1,400 check for families. Although the statistics are therefore influenced by this extraordinary item, the real fallout also remains evident in the strong rise in personal consumption which grow by 4.2%.
Closing down foreuro ending the session at around $ 1.2030. The greenback benefited from the jump in income and consumption in the US and also gained ground against the yen in the 109.30 zone. At 131.50 the exchange rate between the euro and the Japanese currency. The spread between ten-year BTPs and German Bund counterparts it closed steadily at 106 points. The yield of the Italian stock stood at 0.857%.
After the rises in the last few days, the Petroleum: at the close of the European markets, the barrel of WTI crude oil with delivery in June dropped 2.5% to 63.3 dollars while the Brent fell by 2% to 67.2 dollars a barrel. Copper is setting pace after recent gains that have brought it close to historic highs.
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