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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Stock markets welcome US rate rise | Stock markets welcome US rate rise |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| European shares have surged after the US central bank increased interest rates for the first time since 2006. | European shares have surged after the US central bank increased interest rates for the first time since 2006. |
| The main share indexes in the UK, France and Germany's were all up by between 1% and 3% in morning trade. | The main share indexes in the UK, France and Germany's were all up by between 1% and 3% in morning trade. |
| The US Federal Reserve increased the range for its benchmark interest rate to between 0.25% and 0.5%, from the previous range of 0%-0.25%. | The US Federal Reserve increased the range for its benchmark interest rate to between 0.25% and 0.5%, from the previous range of 0%-0.25%. |
| The Fed said the rise was part of a "gradual" process to get rates back to normal after years of being near zero. | The Fed said the rise was part of a "gradual" process to get rates back to normal after years of being near zero. |
| "Considerable improvement" in the jobs market spurred the Fed into action. | "Considerable improvement" in the jobs market spurred the Fed into action. |
| London's FTSE 100 rose 1.4% to 6,146.68, while Frankfurt's Dax jumped more than 3% and the Cac 40 in Paris was 2.5% higher. | |
| 'Christmas has come early' | 'Christmas has come early' |
| The European stock markets were following the lead given by markets in the US and Asia. | The European stock markets were following the lead given by markets in the US and Asia. |
| On Wall Street, the Dow Jones closed up 224.18 points, or 1.3%, at 17,749.09, while in Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 closed up 1.6% at 19,353.56. | On Wall Street, the Dow Jones closed up 224.18 points, or 1.3%, at 17,749.09, while in Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 closed up 1.6% at 19,353.56. |
| "With the Dow rising steadily from the moment [Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen] first opened her mouth, the rosy picture she painted of the US economy and the absence of major overseas threats has sent markets surging with relief," said Robert Craig, private client investment manager at MB Capital. | "With the Dow rising steadily from the moment [Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen] first opened her mouth, the rosy picture she painted of the US economy and the absence of major overseas threats has sent markets surging with relief," said Robert Craig, private client investment manager at MB Capital. |
| "In a press conference that was short on precision and long on pragmatism, the Fed left the door wide open to future changes in direction." | "In a press conference that was short on precision and long on pragmatism, the Fed left the door wide open to future changes in direction." |
| "But what is clear is that there will be no sudden spiral of further rate rises - and for stocks, Christmas has come early." | "But what is clear is that there will be no sudden spiral of further rate rises - and for stocks, Christmas has come early." |
| 'No nasty surprises' | 'No nasty surprises' |
| After the Fed's decision, the dollar rose against larger major currencies. Higher rates make the US a more attractive market for deposits, meaning demand for the dollar is likely to rise. | After the Fed's decision, the dollar rose against larger major currencies. Higher rates make the US a more attractive market for deposits, meaning demand for the dollar is likely to rise. |
| But sterling recovered ground lost against the dollar and was 0.3% higher against the euro to €1.3783 after positive retail sales numbers for November. | But sterling recovered ground lost against the dollar and was 0.3% higher against the euro to €1.3783 after positive retail sales numbers for November. |
| At one point £1 bought almost $1.50. | At one point £1 bought almost $1.50. |
| British government-issued bonds, or gilts, rose in price following the Fed decision, meaning lower yields, or income. | British government-issued bonds, or gilts, rose in price following the Fed decision, meaning lower yields, or income. |
| Benchmark ten-year gilt yields fell 0.056 percentage points to 1.89%. While the spectre of higher rates is often bad for existing debt prices, analysts said investors were pleased future Fed rate rises would be "gradual" in nature. | Benchmark ten-year gilt yields fell 0.056 percentage points to 1.89%. While the spectre of higher rates is often bad for existing debt prices, analysts said investors were pleased future Fed rate rises would be "gradual" in nature. |
| "Overall, there were no nasty surprises in there - the Fed sounded quite dovish, data-dependent, so I think fixed income markets were quite happy with it," Jason Simpson, fixed income strategist at Societe Generale. | "Overall, there were no nasty surprises in there - the Fed sounded quite dovish, data-dependent, so I think fixed income markets were quite happy with it," Jason Simpson, fixed income strategist at Societe Generale. |