World Market Update 5/3/2021

Global e-commerce sales rose to 19 percent amid lockdowns aimed at containing virus outbreaks across the globe. Meanwhile, boosted by surging demand, Euro zone factory activity growth reached a record high last month. It was triggered by an unprecedented rise in the number of orders. Despite a third wave of coronavirus infections in Europe, factories have largely remained open. And finance ministers and central bank governors from ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea vowed to strengthen regional financial ties and pledged to continue to provide support for countries hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To the charts now:

U.S. Stocks:

DOW: -185.51 (33,874.85 USD)

S&P 500: -30.30 (4,181.17 USD)

SPOT GOLD: 1,775.96 USD/ ounce

U.S. dollar cross rates:

YEN: 109.6700

EURO: 0.8310

STERLING: 0.7223

SW FRANC: 0.9132

CAN: 1.2307

AUD: 1.2953

European Markets:

UK FTSE - 100: 6,969.81 GBP

+8.33 (+0.12%)

FRANCE CAC - 40: 6,302.14 EUR

+32.66 (+0.52%)

GERMANY DAX - 30: 15,135.91 EUR

--