Markets Overview
- ASX SPI 200 futures up 0.7% to 7,341.00
- Dow Average up 0.8% to 36,036.17
- Aussie up 0.5% to 0.7248 per US$
- U.S. 10-year yield rose 4.0bps to 1.4927%
- Australia 3-year bond yield rose 1bp to 0.86%
- Australia 10-year bond yield rose 0.7bps to 1.59%
- Gold spot up 0.3% to $1,809.23
- Brent futures up 2.0% to $76.81/bbl
Economic Events
Stocks rose to a record on speculation the economic recovery can weather the coronavirus flareup. Bonds fell.
U.S. consumer sentiment increased in December as households grew more upbeat about the economy. Sales of new homes rose in November to a seven-month high, while orders for durable goods beat forecasts. Consumer spending — adjusted for inflation — stagnated as the fastest price gains in nearly four decades eroded purchasing power. Jobless claims were little changed last week.
Other News
The woman who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of snow globes has revealed that she has spent more than £100,000 on the ornaments.
Wendy Suen, 50, from China, has been collection snow globes for 20 years and has held the world record since 2005.
The priciest ornament in her 4,328 strong hoard is a Louis Vuitton snow globe which cost her £7,500. In total, she estimates that she has spent $165,000 (£124,000).
Suen says that while she still has an overwhelming urge to purchase a globe whenever she sees a design she doesn’t own, she has now run out of space to keep them.
