Asian markets started the week mixed after major U.S. stock indexes posted their best week since October, boosting appetite in global risk markets. A lower-than-expected U.S. consumer price index (CPI), coupled with strong retail sales and initial jobless claims last week, boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve may eventually achieve a soft landing. Goldman Sachs lowered its U.S. recession forecast from 25% to 20%. The return of yen carry positions last week also helped boost the market’s appetite for risk assets.
As a result, the S&P 500 rebounded nearly 4% last week and is up more than 8% since its decline earlier this month; the Nasdaq 100 rebounded more than 5% last week and is up nearly 12% since its decline in August. %; the Dow Jones index rose nearly 3% last week and has risen 6% since its decline in August; the Russell 2000 index also rebounded nearly 3% last week and has rebounded more than 7% since its decline at the beginning of this month. The Stoxx 600 index has recovered more than 6% since its decline in August, and Japan’s Nikkei surged nearly 22%.
All in all, the little panic at the beginning of the month seems to have been completely reversed. The VIX index is back to pre-panic levels.
