Global stocks trade mixed as investors focus on economic recovery, despite mounting concerns about new COVID-19 variants
- Global stocks edged higher on Monday ahead of another week of the earnings season.
- Anthony Fauci predicted a regulatory decision on J&J's vaccine will be made by Friday.
- Investors are awaiting the European Central Bank meeting on Thursday.
Global stocks were mostly up on Monday, as investor expectations focused on the global vaccine rollout aiding economic recovery.
Futures on the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq traded between gains and losses, suggesting a mixed open for US indices later in the day.
The S&P 500 and 30-year Treasury bonds have both rallied for a fourth week together for the first time since August 2008, Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid said.
"The Dow Jones is still expected to start (Monday's) session above 34,100," said Connor Campbell, a financial analyst at SpreadEx. "It's been a steady climb for the Dow this month, opening at 33,030, with a good chunk of April left if it wants to strike 35,000."
As of Monday, all people aged 16 and over in the US will be eligible to get vaccinated. But the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has identified at least five "variants of concern" in Florida. The term is used to describe coronavirus mutations that can spread more easily, be more deadly, or appear to make current vaccines less effective.
After J&J's vaccine was temporarily halted after six cases of blood clots were reported, Anthony Fauci has said a regulatory decision on its resumption will be made by Friday. Fauci said he doubts "very seriously if they just cancel" the J&J vaccine.
Investors are looking ahead to another round of earnings this week, with 80 US large-cap companies reporting results, along with 54 from Europe.
They will also be watching Thursday's European Central Bank meeting and Friday's release of global purchasing managers indices that will offer insight into the strength of the services and manufacturing sectors.
"This will give us an initial indication of how global economic performance has fared at the start of Q2, and there'll be particular attention on the price gauges, as well as investors stay attuned to any signs of growing inflationary pressures," Deutsche's Reid said.
London's FTSE 100 rose 0.2%, the Euro Stoxx 50 rose 0.07%, and Frankfurt's DAX rose 0.2%.
Asian shares hit a one-month high on Monday, on expectations global monetary policy will remain accommodative.
China's Shanghai Composite rose 1.4%, Japan's Nikkei rose 0.01%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.3%.
Bitcoin rose 2% to $57,485, after falling 17% from its all-time high above $64,000 over the weekend. It has risen more than 90% year-to-date, lifted by growing mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies.