European stocks extend losses, bitcoin tumbles

European stock markets slumped Tuesday after a positive start, with worries about rising inflation offsetting optimism over reopened economies, according to traders.

After stock market gains across most of Asia, European indices proceeded to tumble, with Frankfurt’s DAX 30 index leading the way with a loss of more than one percent by early afternoon.

Eurozone inflation was confirmed at 0.9 percent in January compared with a reading of minus 0.3 percent in December, official data showed, adding to concerns that price increases are picking up speed.

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 stocks index fell 0.3 percent, one day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out a roadmap to begin easing England’s coronavirus lockdown from March.

But in a sign of more pain to come, UK unemployment has risen to a near five-year high at 5.1 percent, official data showed Tuesday, and is set to surge further once the government removes its furlough support scheme currently keeping millions of workers in jobs.

Elsewhere Tuesday, the dollar hit a month-low versus the euro before rebounding, with US Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell due later to deliver congressional testimony.

Sterling traded around near three-year highs against the dollar.

Bitcoin tumbled 14 percent to $47,255, one day after US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hit out over the virtual currency, claiming it was an inefficient way of carrying out payments, and highlighting also the vast amount of energy needed per transaction.

On the upside, oil prices rose further on higher demand prospects as the world emerges from lockdowns.

While there is growing hope that vaccine rollouts will allow the global economy to get back on track, niggling worries that the recovery will fan inflation and interest rate hikes are weighing on stock markets.

“Investors are quickly rediscovering that not all stocks are created equal in a Covid recovery as expensive tech names (are sold) to provide the source of funds for less expensive travel-related markers, along with energy and other inflation beneficiaries”, noted Axi strategist Stephen Innes.

Wall Street’s tech-rich Nasdaq tumbled more than two percent Monday.

On Tuesday, EasyJet shares rallied around five percent on rocketing flight bookings for the British airline over the past week, given an additional boost by Johnson’s lockdown-easing pledge.

Bookings soared 337 percent by late Monday compared with a week earlier, EasyJet said.

Shares prices of other major European airlines jumped, with Ryanair winning 1.9 percent.

British Airways owner IAG, whose portfolio includes also Ireland’s Aer Lingus and Spain’s Iberia, gained around one percent.

In the eurozone, Air France KLM soared 3.9 percent and German giant Lufthansa advanced 1.1 percent.

“Airline shares roared higher on the promise of a salvaged summer season,” said Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson, noting however that “international travel will remain problematic and subject to restrictions, isolation and testing”.

Key figures around 1230 GMT
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 6,593.16 points

Frankfurt – DAX 30: DOWN 1.1 percent at 13,791.63

Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 5,760.36

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.8 percent at 3,672.11

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 1.0 percent at 30,632.64 (close)

Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,636.36 (close)

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday

New York – Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 31,521.69 (close Monday)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.2156 from $1.2161 at 2145 GMT

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.4094 from $1.4064

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.28 pence from 86.44 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 105.19 yen from 105.07 yen

Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.5 percent at $66.32 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.6 percent at $62.05 per barrel