By Lachlan Meakin

Equity markets

US Equity markets started strongly with a post Presidents Day holiday bump, only to fade during the session with only the Dow 30 managing to keep in positive territory and hit another record high. 

It was a quiet night on the news front with nothing released to drive the markets. To gauge the progress of the US economic recovery, all eyes will be on tonight’s US retail sales figures where a sizable increase is forecasted from last month’s negative figure.

Source: Yahoo Finance

COVID

US vaccination efforts have increased with an estimated 11.8% of the population now having received at least one dose of the vaccine. Cases and hospitalizations are dropping dramatically across the U.S underpinning hopes of an economic recovery.

In Australia, the TGA approved the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will be the main vaccine used for the majority of Australians. Vaccinations are expected to begin in March.

FX markets 

AUDUSD

With no major economic announcements, the AUDUSD weakened with a combination of US dollar strength and a bounce off the technically strong 78c resistance level. Tomorrow all important employment figures will be keenly watched by Aussie traders.

Source: GO MT4

GBPUSD

The British pound held its recent gains, as optimism grew over the speed and effectiveness of the UK’s coronavirus vaccine rollout. GBPUSD has hit its highest level since April 2018. The success of the UK’s vaccination programme is fuelling hopes of a swifter rollback of the restrictions currently hobbling the UK economy.

Source: GO MT4

Bitcoin

Bitcoin achieved another milestone last night, breaking past $50,000 USD for the first time before pulling back to settle around the 49,000 USD mark.

Bolstered by endorsements from names like Paul Tudor Jones, Elon Musk and Morgan Stanley the cryptocurrency has rallied 70% so far this year.

By Lachlan Meakin

Thursday, 18 February 2021  Indicative Index Dividends Dividends are in Points
ASX200	WS30	US500	US2000	NDX100	CAC40	STOXX50
2.015	3.076	0.144	0.1	0.58	0	0
ESP35	ITA40	FTSE100	DAX30	HK50	JP225	INDIA50
0	0	12.343	0	0	0	0

Disclaimer: The articles are from GO Markets analysts,  based on their independent analysis or personal experiences. Views or opinions or trading styles expressed are of their own;  should not be taken as either representative of or shared by GO Markets.  Advice (if any),  are of a ‘general’ nature and not based on your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.  You should therefore consider how appropriate the advice (if any) is to your objectives, financial situation and needs, before acting on the advice.  If the advice relates to acquiring a particular financial product, you should obtain and consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Financial Services Guide (FSG) for that product before making any decisions.

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