Markets in V-mode: vaccine hopes, Biden bounce in play

LONDON: Joe Biden’s U.S. presidential election win and a promising vaccine breakthrough have combined to propel global stock markets to record highs in the last week, upending the virus-led investment strategies that have been in play since March.

From airline shares to commodity currencies, investors have stormed into riskier market segments as the election outcome and the likelihood of a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available by early 2021 have brightened the outlook for the world economy.

Here are seven charts showing the shift in sentiment over the last one week:

1/ A SHADE OF BLUE IN GREEN STOCKS

Global renewable energy stocks have surged as Biden’s promise to set a U.S. goal for net-zero emissions by 2050 amplifies the rush sparked by the European Union earlier this year when it earmarked a chunk of is planned spending splurge for green investments. Jointly, green spending could be worth trillions of dollars in coming years.

2/ BIDEN WAVE IN DEVELOPING WORLD

Biden’s victory sent emerging market asset prices – from currencies to stocks – soaring as investors bet on a stabler U.S. trade policy with China, Europe and Latin America. Vaccine news has also encouraged the bulls.

Graphic: Emerging markets ride Biden win –

3/ CALMING NERVES

The CBOE’s VIX volatility Index .VIX, known as Wall Street’s “fear gauge”, is hovering near August lows as greater clarity on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election induced investors to unwind bets on a jump in volatility.

Graphic: Volatility drops across asset classes on Biden win –

4/ EQUITY RECORD

Investors have flocked into so-called cyclical companies such as airlines and banks that benefit from economic recoveries.

Graphic: Value stocks outperform growth stocks after Biden win –

Global stocks as measured by an MSCI index .MIWD00000PUS have leapt to record highs, up 8% since Nov 4. Global airlines have soared 16% following recent vaccine news.

Graphic: Global stocks hit record high on Biden win –

5/ COMMODITY CURRENCIES

Commodity currencies have been among the week’s top gainers. Oil exporting Norway’s currency NOK=D3 strengthened nearly 4% over the past week while the Australian dollar AUD=D3 rallied more than 1.5%. Safe havens such as the Japanese yen JPY=EBS, Swiss franc CHF=EBS and the U.S. dollar =USD are down.

Graphic: Major currencies –

6/ DEBT DUMPED, YIELDS JUMPED

The flip side? A selloff in government debt – 10-year U.S. and German bond yields are set for their biggest weekly rise since June.

Ten-year Treasury yields now stand just a whisker below 1%, the level they dropped below in March for the first time ever, when coronavirus panic gripped world markets.

Graphic: US 10-year Treasury yields near 1% –