Stock markets rally on economy recovery hopes

LONDON: Stock markets rallied Monday, with further signs of economic recovery resonating with investors more than a surge in coronavirus infections worldwide.

The easing of lockdowns is providing hope the global economy will bounce back from an expected recession this year, with England's pubs reopening at the weekend and tourist attractions around Europe now either open or planning to.

Better-than-forecast data on US jobs creation and factory activity have also provided a boost to confidence, as have hopes for a vaccine, which observers say is key to kickstarting any recovery.

"European markets have taken their lead from China, with the world's second largest economy seeing a huge uptick" with its main stocks index closing up nearly six percent, noted Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at IG trading group.

Traders have piled back into stocks in a major way in recent months -- with the help of vast government and central bank support -- and analysts have suggested the gains are also being helped by a fear of missing out on the rally.

"The global economic data and positive coverage on potential COVID-19 vaccines and treatments represent a... whirligig of positive news that is overwhelming gnarly headline flows around the daily virus case counts in the US," said AxiCorp's Stephen Innes.

Shanghai led the gains, soaring to its highest level in more than two years, while Hong Kong finished up 3.8 percent at levels not seen since early March.

But there remains trepidation on trading floors as new infections spike around the world.

Some US states are reporting record daily increases, with a number of officials considering reimposing lockdown measures, while Brazil and India are also seeing worryingly large rises.

And Australia said it would effectively seal off the state of Victoria from the rest of the country as authorities struggle to control a surge in cases.

For the first time since the global pandemic began, the border between Australia's two most populous states -- Victoria and New South Wales -- will be closed, beginning midnight Tuesday, officials from both states said.

The outbreak sent Sydney falling 0.7 percent.

"For now the positive data surprises and huge fiscal and monetary stimulus are the overwhelming forces," National Australia Bank's Rodrigo Catril said in a note.

"But the increase in COVID-19 infections, not just in the US, means that they need to be closely monitored -- the introduction of more severe containment measures has the potential to derail the positive vibes in markets."

   - Key figures around 1130 GMT -

   London - FTSE 100: UP 1.7 percent at 6,262.98 points
   Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.6 percent at 12,723.76
   Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.5 percent at 5,083.64
   EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.7 percent at 3,349.48
   Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.8 percent at 22,714.44 (close)
   Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 3.8 percent at 26,339.16 (close)
   Shanghai - Composite: UP 5.7 percent at 3,332.88 (close)
   New York - Dow: Closed for a holiday
   West Texas Intermediate: FLAT at $40.65 per barrel
   Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.0 percent at $43.24 per barrel
   Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1315 from $1.1242 on Friday
   Dollar/yen: DOWN at 107.49 yen from 107.52 yen
   Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2508 from $1.2469
   Euro/pound: UP at 90.42 pence from 90.16 pence