The eurozone’s main stock markets pulled back yesterday as the euro climbed higher and investors digested news that German business confidence dipped slightly below last month’s record high.
Frankfurt’s DAX 30 index and the Paris CAC 40 both shed 0.7% as the euro gained against the dollar.
Leading indices in the single-currency area had risen by around 1.5% on Monday as US President Donald Trump’s tax-cutting plans moved a step closer.
Yesterday in Germany, Europe’s top economy, the Ifo economic institute revealed that its business climate index hit 117.2 points in December, slightly below November’s historic 117.5.
It comes as Germany remains mired in a political stalemate, with Chancellor Angela Merkel still trying to form a new government after coalition talks collapsed last month.
Outside the eurozone, London’s benchmark FTSE 100 climbed 0.09% to 7,544.09 points compared with the close on Monday. Most Asian stock markets extended gains yesterday, taking a lead from fresh record-highs overnight on Wall Street where a long-awaited US tax-cut bill is expected to be passed this week.
After months of uncertainty, the controversial fiscal reforms could be on Trump’s desk for signature before year-end, giving the president his first major legislative victory.
“As the US government could be voting on the tax proposals this week, dealers are starting to doubt how much economic growth will added by the tax cuts,” causing the dollar to fall back, said David Madden, market analyst at CMC markets UK.
The dollar, which rallied Friday on news that Republican senators had the votes to pass the tax bill, struggled against the euro and pound in trading yesterday.
Wall Street stocks also turned lower in trading yesterday, with the Dow down 0.2% in late morning trading.
“Today’s slight losses, especially in the US, are more of a pause for breath before the rally moves on once more; the reform bill still seems certain to pass, and this still means that investors are going to be buying stocks as year-end nears,” said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading firm IG.
Elsewhere, bitcoin dropped to $18,128.71 from $18,669.80 around 2200 GMT on Monday.
“Bitcoin is having a rare day in the red yesterday, paring excessive gains that came as CBOE and CME prepared to launch futures contracts,” said market analyst Craig Erlam at currency trading firm Oanda.
“It’s possible that the 3-4% declines being seen this morning is just some profit taking as bitcoin prepares to overcome another milestone – $20,000 – only weeks after having overcome $10,000 for the first time,” he added.
Meanwhile, a South Korean exchange trading bitcoin and other virtual currencies declared itself bankrupt on Tuesday after being hacked for the second time this year, highlighting the risk over cryptocurrencies as they soar in popularity.
The Youbit exchange said it had lost 17% of its assets in the attack yesterday.
A trader is seen at the London Stock Exchange. The FTSE 100 climbed 0.09% to 7,544.09 points yesterday.
