On October 3rd, growing market bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts drove the Stoxx Europe 600 index up 0.4% to a record high, with European stocks poised for strong weekly gains led by banking and mining shares.
In pre-market US trading, the three major stock index futures rose collectively, boosted by technology stocks. The S&P 500 is positioned for its sixth consecutive gain, marking the longest winning streak since July.
In bond markets, the US 10-year Treasury yield rose 1 basis point to 4.1%. The dollar index fell 0.12% to 97.77.
Most commodities advanced, with gold, silver, and crude oil posting gains. Copper prices surged significantly, with London copper futures soaring to an annual high of $10,577 per ton.
Cryptocurrency markets showed weakness, with Bitcoin and Ethereum declining.
**European Market Performance**
The Stoxx Europe 600 index gained 0.4%, reaching a record high. The Euro Stoxx 50 opened up 0.35%, the UK's FTSE 100 rose 0.49%, France's CAC 40 advanced 0.28%, and Germany's DAX increased 0.18%.
**US Futures Activity**
S&P 500 futures climbed 0.2%, Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.3%, and Dow Jones futures rose 0.2%. The rally was driven by technology stocks amid renewed AI optimism.
**Key Corporate Developments**
Tesla Motors shares advanced 2% in pre-market trading, recovering from the previous session's 5% decline. The electric vehicle manufacturer reported record third-quarter vehicle deliveries, ending months of decline and exceeding analyst expectations.
**AI Sector Momentum**
The technology rally gained momentum from corporate AI partnerships, including Hitachi's collaboration with OpenAI on energy and infrastructure projects, and Fujitsu's expanded partnership with Nvidia. Investors are betting that billions of dollars flowing into AI will translate into profits, with this optimism helping offset concerns about the Trump administration's plans to cut thousands of federal jobs following the government shutdown.
**Economic Data Impact**
The US government shutdown has disrupted economic data releases, with weekly initial jobless claims postponed from Thursday's scheduled release. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Friday non-farm payroll report may also face delays due to the shutdown.
**Commodity Markets**
Copper prices experienced a significant surge, with London copper futures hitting an annual peak of $10,577 per ton. The rally was triggered by force majeure declared at Freeport-McMoRan's Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia following a major incident, leading to acute supply tightening expectations in the market.
Spot gold traded at $3,863.81 per ounce, while spot silver reached $47.35 per ounce. Brent crude oil gained 0.9% to $64.7 per barrel.
**Cryptocurrency Performance**
Bitcoin and Ethereum declined 0.7% as digital assets faced selling pressure amid the broader risk-on sentiment in traditional markets.
Markets continue to monitor developments as the situation remains fluid.