EU Stoxx 50 Outlook: Rebound on Vaccine News Running Out of Steam

EU Stoxx 50 Index, European Central Bank, Vaccine, Lockdowns, Coronavirus – Talking Points:

• The New Zealand Dollar significantly outperformed its major counterparts after the RBNZ held interest rates steady.
• European equities are at risk of reversing lower as vaccine optimism begins to fade.
• However, dovish ECB may limit potential downside.
• EU Stoxx 50 index at risk of reversing lower as RSI dips away from overbought territory.

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Asia-Pacific Recap

Asian equity markets broadly moved higher during Asia-Pacific trade, as market participants continued to cheer positive coronavirus vaccine developments.

Australia’s ASX 200 index jumped 1.72% after the Westpac Consumer Confidence Index rose to its highest reading since late 2013, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index surged over 1.7%.

The haven-linked US Dollar continued to lose ground against its major counterparts while the cyclically-sensitive Australian Dollar and Norwegian Krone largely outperformed.

The New Zealand Dollar burst higher after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand held interest rates steady at 0.25%. Gold and silver nudged higher despite a 2 basis point rise in US 10-year Treasury yields.

Looking ahead, US mortgage applications for the week ending November 6, and speeches from European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Vice-President Luis de Guindos, headline the economic docket.

DailyFX Economic Calendar

Dose of Reality to Weigh on European Asset Prices

European equity markets have soared higher in recent days, on the back of positive coronavirus vaccine progress and the expectation of a more diplomatic approach to foreign policy under President-elect Joe Biden’s administration.

However, there is a possibility that investors are getting ahead of themselves given the deteriorating health and economic conditions in several European nations.

After all, Europe’s benchmark EU Stoxx 50 index has surged just under 20% since the 30th of October despite the European Union’s two largest economies, France and Germany, announcing month-long national lockdowns to combat the record increase in infections.

Indeed, France and Italy recorded the highest rise in Covid-19 deaths since April on November 10, while German authorities have hinted at extending current restrictions if outbreaks aren’t successfully supressed.

Source – European Central Bank

Moreover, the Euro-area’s ZEW Economic Sentiment Index fell by 19.5 points in November to its lowest levels since April, as investors lose confidence in the region’s economic recovery amid the tightening of restrictions.

The vaccine itself – developed by Pfizer and BioNTech – also calls into question the optimistic reaction seen across multiple asset classes recently, as concerns regarding transport, production and storage begin to surface.

Granted, 90% efficacy is notably higher than even the most optimistic expectations for a first-generation vaccine however, with the shots requiring a storage temperature of -70 degrees Celsius and two doses needed to successfully inoculate a subject, there is a distinct possibility that this vaccine will only be distributed to a limited number of nations.

Therefore, European asset prices may slide lower in the coming days as investors contemplate the reality that a vaccine may not be available for mass distribution until mid-2021.

Euro-Area ZEW Economic Sentiment Index

Dovish ECB May Underpin EU Stoxx 50

Having said that, the dovish stance of the European Central Bank may limit the downside for regional risk assets, as Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel states that “in light of the second wave of Covid-19 infections and renewed lockdowns, further monetary policy support is required to safeguard favourable financial conditions and underpin economic activity in the face of a deteriorating growth outlook”.

The Governing Council is expected to expand its €1.35 trillion Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program (PEPP) in December, despite spending just over half of the dedicated funds so far and the suggestions by some committee members that the “flexibility of the PEPP suggested that the net purchase envelope should be a considered a ceiling rather than a target”.

Source – European Central Bank

In fact, President Christine Lagarde confirmed that “we are going to use all the instruments that we have with the entire flexibility that we have, and I’m clearly referring to PEPP more than others, to address the situation and to address any development of the situation”.

Therefore, the expectation of further monetary easing may underpin regional equity markets in the near term and limit potential losses if sentiment notably sours.

EU Stoxx 50 Index Futures Daily Chart – RSI Hints at Uptrend Exhaustion

EU Stoxx 50 futures daily chart created using TradingView

From a technical perspective, the benchmark EU Stoxx 50 index looks poised to reverse lower after failing to breach key resistance at the March high (3467).

The development of the RSI hints that the 20% rally from the October low (2887) may be running out of steam, as the oscillator notably swerves away from overbought territory.

A break back below the June high (3394) would probably generate a pullback towards confluent support at the 100-day moving average and 61.8% Fibonacci (3242).

Conversely, a daily close above the March high (3467) could signal the resumption of the primary uptrend and bring the January low (3607) into focus.

EU Stoxx 50 Index Futures 4-Hour Chart – Near-Term Pullback on the Cards

EU Stoxx 50 futures 4-hour chart created using TradingView

Zooming into a 4-hour chart hints at a short-term pullback, as the RSI diverges with price and fails to confirm the move to higher highs.

Price may slide back to support at the June high (3394) if the March high (3467) remains intact, with a breach of the 3350 mark probably igniting a push to close the November 6 breakaway gap (3201).

Conversely, a break above the March high (3467) and psychologically imposing 3500 level could carve a path for price to test key resistance at the January low (3607).

-- Written by Daniel Moss, Analyst for DailyFX

Follow me on Twitter @DanielGMoss

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November 11, 2020 at 09:00PM
Daniel Moss
https://www.dailyfx.com/forex/fundamental/daily_briefing/session_briefing/euro_open/2020/11/11/EU-Stoxx-50-Outlook-Rebound-on-Vaccine-News-Running-Out-of-Steam-.html