Summary for the 1st of March 2019


The GDP growth in the US was at 2.6% from the third quarter (3.4%)to the fourth quarter of 2018. The growth rate beat the market expectations. Consumer spending was in line with the long term economic growth. The net exports have reduced the GDP growth by 0.22%. Looking at 2018 as a whole, the GDP growth was at 2.9%, the strongest growth rate since 2015. Though, the outlook for 2019 economic growth is still weak, due to part of the beginning of 2019 was affected by government shutdown. The effect of the fiscal policy will start to get weaker, and the lending terms will probably be getting tighter. Increase in protectionism and weaker global growth will also drag down the economic growth for 2019.

Despite the GDP growth, the US stock markets closed in negative yesterday. Japan and China’s stock markets closed in positive after China released a better than expected Caixin Manufacturing PMI numbers.

Indices for 1st of March
Dow: -0.3% (28th of February )
S&P 500: -0.3% (28th of February)
Nasdaq: -0.3% (28th of February)
Nikkei: +1%  (1st of March)
Chinese indices: +0.5% (1st of March))
STOXX Europe 600 Index: +0.39% (1st of March)
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