FTSE 100 set to slump after gains eroded by UK recession
The blue-chip index nearly ended the week in the red after almost all its earlier gains were eroded on Friday, with investors concerned about the UK economy after it crashed into a recession following a quarterly slump.
The FTSE 100 closed 1.5% lower on Friday, with the final trading session nearly eroding all of its earlier gains, with investors concerned about the UK economy after it crashed into a recession following a major quarterly slump.
Earlier in the week, investors appeared to shrug off the news that UK GDP shrank by 20.4% between April – June (Q2) 2020, with the index moving higher rather than faltering.
Instead, traders appeared to focus on the prospect of a potential vaccine being developed, with the race heating up among drug makers like AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Moderna, as well as other smaller biotech firms.
Thankfully, the blue-chip index managed to stabilise after the morning session on Friday, helping the FTSE 100 end the week 1% higher.
FTSE 100 futures are down more than 1.8%, however, after close on Friday, suggesting that IG’s Weekend UK 100 market will trade lower on Saturday and Sunday.
FTSE 100 recovery left waiting for US stimulus deal
Investors could have to wait some time for the FTSE 100 to be lifted higher by a US-led surge in equities, with a wide-ranging stimulus package seemingly some ways off after Congress failed to reach an agreement on Friday.
The delay to the deal, which aims to tackle additional unemployment benefits, stimulus checks and eviction protections, is essential to support tens of millions of US citizens who, without government aid will struggle to cover rent and food bills.
There are many disagreements Republicans and Democrats have about the new stimulus package, chief among them the final figure. Democrats are pushing for a Covid-19 relief package valued at $3.4 trillion, while their counterparts across the aisle have repeatedly said that they will only support a much smaller deal in the region of $1 trillion.
As it stands, US citizens and investors will have to wait until September for both political parties to debate the issue again, with Congress breaking for August recess with no coronavirus relief package in sight.
FTSE 100 drops below Fibonacci support
The FTSE 100 has dropped below the 76.4% Fibonacci support level (6163), following a mid-week rally into trendline resistance, according to Josh Mahony, senior market analyst at IG.
‘That downside move is set within a wider bullish trend seen over the past three-weeks,’ Mahony said. ‘As such, we need to see the 6122 level broken to bring expectations of a protracted period of weakness for the FTSE.’
‘Until then, the uptrend remains intact (just),’ he added.
How to trade the FTSE 100 this weekend
Did you know? You can trade forex and indices like the FTSE 100 during Saturday and Sunday with IG using our Weekend UK 100 index. Our world-leading trading platform is the only solution to offer weekend trading on indices.
Whether you want to go long (buy) or short (sell) the FTSE 100 based on the above outlook, you don’t have to wait until the markets reopen on Monday to trade.
The weekend prices for indices and forex are quoted separately to their weekday counterparts, based on our view of the prospects for that market given client business and news flow. As a result, you can use these markets to hedge against risk on your weekday positions.
Ready to start trading the Weekend UK 100? Open a live account or practise using a demo version today.
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Australia Pty Ltd. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.
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