April 2020 in Figures
April 30, 2020
Imposed business shutdowns around the world in March had severely rattled financial market confidence, sending share prices sharply lower and the dollar significantly upward. The feared negative impact on economic data was visibly confirmed during April, but forward-looking investors found hope in the policy response of low interest rates and fiscal support. Although long-term interest rates dropped further and generally by less in the United States than in other economies, stock markets reversed much of March’s losses, and the dollar either showed little net movement or gave back some ground. The wildest financial market ride this past month was seen in oil, which briefly turned sharply negative but ended the period on a rising note and only 8% lower on balance. Gold climbed 6.4%, in contrast.
The central banks featured in the table below had already reduced interest rates to very low levels by the time April began, and none cut them further in the month.
| 10-Yr Yield | 03/31/20 | 04/30/20 | Change in Apr |
| U.S. | 0.67% | 0.64% | -3 Basis Points |
| Germany | -0.48% | -0.59% | -11 |
| Japan | 0.00% | -0.05% | -5 |
| U.K. | 0.35% | 0.23% | -12 |
| Canada | 0.70% | 0.54% | -16 |
| Switzerland | -0.87% | -0.59% | -18 |
| CB Policy Rate | 03/31/20 | 04/30/20 | Change in Apr |
| Fed funds target | 0.00/0.25% | 0.00/0.25% | 0 Basis Points |
| ECB deposit rate | -0.50% | -0.50% | 0 |
| BOJ policy rate | -0.10% | -0.10% | 0 |
| BOE Bank Rate | 0.10% | 0.10% | 0 |
| Swiss 3M Libor | -1.25/-0.25% | -1.25/-0.25% | 0 |
| FX | 03/31/20 | 04/30/20 | Chg in Dollar |
| EUR/USD | 1.1025 | 1.0952 | +0.7% |
| USD/JPY | 107.54 | 107.20 | -0.3% |
| USD/CHF | 0.9624 | 0.9657 | +0.3% |
| GBP/USD | 1.2820 | 1.2591 | +1.8% |
| AUD/USD | 0.6149 | 0.6514 | -5.6% |
| NZD/USD | 0.5960 | 0.6129 | -2.8% |
| USD/CAD | 1.4054 | 1.3942 | -0.8% |
| USD/CNY | 6.9919 | 7.0632 | +1.0% |
| Equities | 03/31/20 | 04/30/20 | Change in Apr |
| S&P 500 | 2586 | 2912 | +12.6% |
| Nasdaq | 7700 | 8890 | +15.5% |
| Djia | 21917 | 24346 | +11.1% |
| Dax | 9936 | 10862 | +9.3% |
| Nikkei | 18917 | 20194 | +6.8% |
| Ftse | 5672 | 5901 | +4.0% |
| Canada TSE | 13334 | 14781 | +10.9% |
| Swiss SMI | 9312 | 9629 | +3.4% |
| Commodities | 03/31/20 | 04/30/20 | Change in Apr |
| Oil, $ per barrel | 20.48 | 18.84 | -8.0% |
| Gold, $ per ounce | 1583.40 | 1684.20 | +6.4% |
Copyright Larry Greenberg 2020. All rights reserved. No secondary distribution without express permission.
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