OTP Morning Brief: silver and gold prices hit new highs
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OTP Morning Brief: Crude oil prices plunged sharply as the Middle East conflict eased
The first trading day of the week brought modest gains to the major European stock markets, as sectors benefiting from the easing of the Middle East conflict offset declines in the technology and energy sectors. Stock markets across the CEE region also moved higher, with the BUX gaining 0.7%. Wall Street indices closed mixed with minor moves, as investors turned their attention to the Fed's upcoming interest rate decision later this week and earnings reports from major technology companies. WTI crude futures fell by more than 7%, while Brent crude declined by over 8%. Developed-market bond yields declined as easing concerns over CPI, driven by lower oil prices, boosted demand for fixed-income assets. Domestic long-term bond yields also moved markedly lower. The EURHUF exchange rate is trading around the 360 level. Today marks the start of the Fed's two-day rate-setting meeting, while the earnings season continues with reports from several major companies.
OTP Morning Brief: Airstrikes eased in the Middle East
European indices advanced on Friday, allowing them to end the week in positive territory once again. The July PMI data painted a positive picture of the eurozone outlook, although Trump imposed new tariffs, including measures affecting Europe. The BUX declined on Friday, but still ended the week in positive territory. According to the HCSO, employment declined while unemployment increased. Airstrikes between Iran and neighboring countries eased over the weekend. This pushed oil prices back below $100 per barrel. The S&P declined on Friday and posted a loss for the week as a whole. The composite PMI also increased in the US. Developed market government bond yields retreated from their local highs. Hungarian bond yields increased, while the forint strengthened slightly. Q2 GDP data will be released this week for Hungary, the eurozone, and the US. In addition, investors will be watching eurozone and US CPI data, as well as the Fed's interest rate decision.
Western Europe’s markets inched down in Monday’s subdued pre-holiday trading; silver and gold prices broke records. The CEE region’s indices rose, the BUX and OTP closed at new highs. US markets marched higher. Japan’s and Germany’s 10Y bond yields are new highs. The forint’s weakening against the euro continued. America’s GDP data and Hungary’s current account balance are data to watch today.
Western Europe’s markets edged lower in Monday’s light trading, while silver and gold prices hit new record; the CEE region’s indices rose, OTP closed at a new high again
The stock markets of Western Europe closed slightly lower on Monday. The STOXX Europe 600 inched down 0.1%. The major stock markets also weakened: London's FTSE and France's CAC 40 shed 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively, while Germany's DAX ended flat.
Most sectors weakened after Friday's strong gains, while the food & beverage sector suffered the biggest losses. Shares in Diageo, the world’s largest spirits company, slumped 3.7%, as did French spirits maker Pernod Ricard (-2.9%) and Anheuser-Busch InBev (-2.5%), the owner of Stella Artois. The commodities sector closed higher; mining companies upped nearly 1% as gold broke above 4,400 USD/ounce for the first time, while silver and copper also hit record highs. The banking index –the main engine of last week’s growth– has barely changed. The sector has gained more than 65% year to date, and remained one of the strongest performers. Analysts attribute this to a pick-up in corporate mergers and acquisitions, a more moderate regulatory environment, and a relatively stable economic backdrop. The defence and aerospace sector slipped 0.4% after surging more than 3% in the previous two trading sessions. Oil stocks rose by 0.3%, tracking an increase in crude prices.
The London market was dragged down by the UK’s weaker-than-expected GDP data: while Q3 growth, at 0.1% quarter-on-quarter, was in line with expectations, the Office for National Statistics revised down the second-quarter figure to 0.2% from 0.3%.
In individual stories, Abivax jumped 15% after media reports suggested that US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly may be making another bid for the company. Orsted, on the other hand, plunged more than 12% after the Trump administration suspended approvals for five large-scale offshore wind projects, citing national security concerns. The Danish energy company owned two of those projects.
The main markets in the CEE region rose: CETOP (+0.3%), PX50 (+0.4%), and Poland’s WIG (+0.9%) all advanced. Hungary’s BUX (+0.4%), benefited from MOL’s (+2.3%) growth that followed a decline in the previous days. OTP (+0.4%) closed at a new all-time high, while Richter (-0.7%) and MTelekom (-0.9%) subsided.
Gold and silver also closed at new highs, with gold ending above USD 4,400 and silver above USD 68. The gains were driven by news that the US had seized another Venezuelan oil tanker, in the third such seizure in two weeks. The incident also contributed to an increase in oil prices: Brent and WTI both closed roughly 2% higher for the day.
US markets marched higher
America’s stock market rose further, partly supported by the continued strength of technology stocks; the broad-based rally helped almost all of the eleven sectors of the S&P 500. The Dow Jones added 0.5%, the S&P and Nasdaq advanced 0.6% each.
The rally began late last week after Micron Technology issued an exceptionally strong forecast, and weaker-than-expected US inflation data came out – as a result, the S&P 500 and the Dow came less than 1% shy of their record closing levels set on 11 December. Nvidia shares grew by 1.2%, making the largest contribution to the strengthening of the S&P 500 index. Reuters reported that the company has told Chinese customers that it plans to start shipping its second-most powerful AI chip to China in mid-February, before the Lunar New Year. Micron surged by 3.8%, and most other chipmakers rose, helping the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index increase by 1.1%.
Gold price rose 0.3%, while silver jumped 2.5%, reaching a new all-time high above $67.
Japan’s and Germany’s 10-year yields hit new highs; the HUF weakened against the EUR again
The upward trend, which started after Japan had hiked interest rates on Friday, continued on Monday: Japan’s 10Y yield closed above 2.08%. Meanwhile, a former decision-maker of the Bank of Japan said that the base rate may rise to 1.5% from the current 0.75%. Germany’s 10Y yield also rose above 2.9%, a level last seen in October 2023. The US 10-year government bond yield also rose, closing at 4.17%. The EUR/USD closed at 1.176. The yen strengthened 0.4% against the USD after Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said in an interview with Bloomberg News on Monday that Japan has “free hand” for a bold action in the FX market if needed.
The HUF weakened by 0.5% on Monday, reversing Friday’s strengthening: the EUR/HUF closed at 388.71. While yields rose elsewhere, Hungary’s benchmark yields sank on securities maturing in up to ten years, yields on 15Y-20Y tenors increased; the 10-year yield was 6.78%.
Today’s highlights
Asia’s indices moved mixed this morning: China’s SSEC upped 0.3% and Japan’s Nikkei shed 0.2%. The yen remained the focus of attention in the FX market, as investors assess chances that Japan’s authorities will intervene soon to support the local currency. The yen appreciated by 0.7% in today’s trading. Europe’s index futures were near-stagnant, while their American counterparts edged down trivially. WTI sank 0.3%.
The USA releases the Q3 GDP data, which were delayed due to the government shutdowns. It is estimated that annualized growth may have been around 3%, in a slight slowdown compared to the previous quarter.
Our next Morning Brief will be published on 5 January 2026. Happy Holidays!
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