Close June 25

​In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 closed down 0.3%. Auto stocks led the losses with a 1.2% decline following a Daimler profit warning, while only a handful of sectors traded in positive territory. Germany’s DAX fell over 0.5%. Daimler cut its 2019 earnings outlook Sunday after lifting provisions for issues related to its diesel vehicles by hundreds of millions of euros, sending auto stocks lower across the continent. The company’s stock was among the worst performers, down nearly 4%.



In Currency Markets sterling pulled back from a one-month high on Monday hit largely on the back of a selloff in the dollar, with traders reluctant to take big positions on the pound until the conclusion of the Conservative Party leadership contest. The pound fell 0.2% to $1.2726 after earlier touching $1.2766, a one-month high. Against the euro sterling weakened 0.2% to 89.395 pence, not far from the 89.74 five-month low the British currency hit last week. Bitcoin held firm after its torrid run over the weekend, when it broke above $11,000 for the first time since March 2018.



In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Monday on concerns about the possibility of weakening demand after large gains last week caused tensions between the United States and Iran. Benchmark Brent crude was down 46 cents, or 0.71%, at $64.74 a barrel , while U.S. crude was down 18 cents, or 0.31%, at $57.25. Last week, Brent climbed 5% and U.S. crude surged 10% after Iran shot down a U.S. drone on Thursday in the Gulf, adding to tensions stoked by attacks on oil tankers in the area in May and June that Washington has blamed on Iran.



In US Equity Markets indices edged higher on Monday, as gains in technology stocks more than offset losses in healthcare sector, while investors awaited a high-stakes meeting between U.S. and Chinese leaders at the G20 summit later this week. The S&P 500 was up 0.10%, at 2,953.43. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.04%, at 8,035.09. Shares of casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corp jumped 17% after rival Eldorado Resorts Inc said it agreed to buy the company for $8.5 billion. Shares of Eldorado fell 9.2%.



In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell on Monday, holding just above almost three-year lows, ahead of trade talks between the U.S. and China later this week. Investors are focused on whether U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping can de-escalate the trade war between the two countries when they meet at the G20 summit in Japan. Benchmark 10-year notes were last up 10/32 in price to yield 2.033 percent, down from 2.066 percent on Friday.