German Dax up 0.9%. UK FTSE up 0.5%. France's CAC up 1.1%

The European stock markets are closed and the major indices are closing higher:

  • German Dax up 0.9%
  • France's CAC up 1.1%.
  • UK FTSE up 0.5%
  • Spain's Ibex up 1.1%
  • Italy's FTSE MIB up 0.51%
  • Portugal's PSI20 bucked the bullish trend and closed down -0.27%

In the 10 year note sector, yields were mostly lower with the exception of Italy (budget concerns sent yields higher today).

In other markets as London traders look to exit are showing the NZD is now the strongest, while the JPY is the weakest (USDJPY and JPY crosses are running higher with stock gains helping).

In the US stock market, records are being made in the Dow (took out the January high finally) and the S&P:

  • S&P is up 20.83 points or 0.72% at 2928.81. The new high is 2930.17
  • Dow is up 234 points at 26641. The new high is 26654.
  • Nasdaq is up 72 points or 0.90% at 8021.59. It is not at an all-time high (at 8133.29). Maybe before the close.

Yields in the US have come off earlier highs and are mixed. The 2-10 year spread has also come in today by -1.3 bps.

In other markets as European traders look for the exit:

  • Spot gold is down $0.50 or -0.05% at $1203.53
  • WTI crude oil trading around unchanged levels too at -$0.16 at $70.96.
  • Bitcoin is down -$13.00 at $6410, but remains above the 100 and 200 hour MA at $6370 and $6361 respectively.