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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2017/dec/19/stock-markets-record-highs-us-tax-reform-vote-business-live
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| Trump tax bill drives world markets to record highs – business live | Trump tax bill drives world markets to record highs – business live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Newsflash: German business morale has fallen a little (but remains strong). | |
| The monthly business confidence measure, calculated from the IFO institute, dropped to 117.2 this month. That down from November’s record high of 117.6. | |
| German business leaders are a little less optimistic about business expectations, says IFO. | |
| Shocking! The German IFO did NOT reach a new historical high this month, falling by a massive 0.3 point to 117.2 on weaker expectations. | |
| America’s Tax Policy Center has analysed the US tax reform package, and shown conclusively that it benefits high earners the most. | |
| In the short term, the bill will indeed cut taxes for most Americans -- around 143 million people should pay less next year, while 8.5 million pay more. | |
| For all the talk of helping ‘middle class Americans’ , the benefits will be felt most by those coining at least half a million dollars a year. | |
| But that’s the short term impact. Analysts think that tax bills will actually go up in the long term -- as some individual tax changes are not permanent and will expire in 2025. | |
| Steve Goldstein of Marketwatch explains: | |
| Things change however once 2025 rolls around. If no change is made, what were tax cuts will become tax hikes, even relative to current law. | |
| A majority of Americans in a decade’s time will then pay higher taxes, including 69.7% of the middle quintile. | |
| New distribution analysis of the final tax bill.Millionaires on average will get an extra $69,660 boost. Those with less than $10,000 will get an extra $10 to play with.https://t.co/hOStWMkoaX | |
| European markets have opened higher, with the Stoxx 600 hitting a six-week high. | European markets have opened higher, with the Stoxx 600 hitting a six-week high. |
| In London, the FTSE 100 has gained 14 points to 7551 - less than 50 points away from its all-time high. | In London, the FTSE 100 has gained 14 points to 7551 - less than 50 points away from its all-time high. |
| Connor Campbell of SpreadEx sums up the situation: | Connor Campbell of SpreadEx sums up the situation: |
| Much like on Monday, Tuesday saw little for investors to focus on beyond Trump’s likely tax bill success later this evening. | Much like on Monday, Tuesday saw little for investors to focus on beyond Trump’s likely tax bill success later this evening. |
| Unsurprisingly investors have ignored the nuances of the Republican tax ‘reforms’ – especially the impact it will have on the American middle class – to instead revel in what it means for the nation’s mega-corporations and millionaires. | Unsurprisingly investors have ignored the nuances of the Republican tax ‘reforms’ – especially the impact it will have on the American middle class – to instead revel in what it means for the nation’s mega-corporations and millionaires. |
| Shares in China rose today, as optimism over the looming US corporation tax cuts rippled through the markets. | Shares in China rose today, as optimism over the looming US corporation tax cuts rippled through the markets. |
| The CSI 300 index gained 1.2%, while the Shanghai composite rose by almost 0.9%. | The CSI 300 index gained 1.2%, while the Shanghai composite rose by almost 0.9%. |
| Stocks in Australia also rallied, closing close to their highest level in 10 years, following last night’s record close on Wall Street. | Stocks in Australia also rallied, closing close to their highest level in 10 years, following last night’s record close on Wall Street. |
| Mike van Dulken of Accendo Markets says “fresh optimism that Republicans will pass their highly anticipated tax reform bill into law” has sent equities rallying. | Mike van Dulken of Accendo Markets says “fresh optimism that Republicans will pass their highly anticipated tax reform bill into law” has sent equities rallying. |
| Although it’s billed at a ‘reform’ bill, the tax legislation agreed by Congress will have wider consequences for Americans. | Although it’s billed at a ‘reform’ bill, the tax legislation agreed by Congress will have wider consequences for Americans. |
| My colleague Ben Jacobs explains: | My colleague Ben Jacobs explains: |
| Although Republicans had long hailed tax reform as a way to simplify the United States tax code, it would keep all seven existing tax brackets for individuals and would also add over a trillion dollars to the budget deficit. It also would limit tax deductions for home mortgages and for state and local taxes. | Although Republicans had long hailed tax reform as a way to simplify the United States tax code, it would keep all seven existing tax brackets for individuals and would also add over a trillion dollars to the budget deficit. It also would limit tax deductions for home mortgages and for state and local taxes. |
| The bill also would have a significant impact on policy outcomes outside the tax code. It would end the individual mandate under Obamacare, which requires Americans to buy health insurance or pay a penalty and open up the Arctic national wildlife reserve in Alaska to oil drilling. | The bill also would have a significant impact on policy outcomes outside the tax code. It would end the individual mandate under Obamacare, which requires Americans to buy health insurance or pay a penalty and open up the Arctic national wildlife reserve in Alaska to oil drilling. |
| Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business. | Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business. |
| World stock markets are at record levels today as investors salivate over the prospect of $1.5 trillion of US tax cuts being voted through soon. | World stock markets are at record levels today as investors salivate over the prospect of $1.5 trillion of US tax cuts being voted through soon. |
| America’s House of Representatives is on the brink of passing a major, and controversial, tax reform package. After months of bargaining and brinkmanship, a finalised version of the bill could be approved later today. | America’s House of Representatives is on the brink of passing a major, and controversial, tax reform package. After months of bargaining and brinkmanship, a finalised version of the bill could be approved later today. |
| The package has been heavily criticised for favouring the rich, and driving the US national debt up by another $1.45 trillion. | The package has been heavily criticised for favouring the rich, and driving the US national debt up by another $1.45 trillion. |
| But right now, investors are more excited about the sweeping cuts to corporation tax contained in the package - which look like an early Christmas present to some of America’s big corporations. | But right now, investors are more excited about the sweeping cuts to corporation tax contained in the package - which look like an early Christmas present to some of America’s big corporations. |
| The plan would lower the corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35%, which is likely to give company’s more firepower for dividend payments and share buybacks. | The plan would lower the corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35%, which is likely to give company’s more firepower for dividend payments and share buybacks. |
| Crucially, a lone Republican Senate holdout, Bob Corker of Tennessee, has switched sides and decided to support the package - having previously said it was fiscally irresponsible. | Crucially, a lone Republican Senate holdout, Bob Corker of Tennessee, has switched sides and decided to support the package - having previously said it was fiscally irresponsible. |
| This sent Wall Street rallying to yet another record high last night, pushing the MSCI World index of global stocks to a new level. | This sent Wall Street rallying to yet another record high last night, pushing the MSCI World index of global stocks to a new level. |
| CLOSING BELL: The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all closed at new records. The Nasdaq flirted with 7,000. pic.twitter.com/E4k2nqghGk | CLOSING BELL: The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all closed at new records. The Nasdaq flirted with 7,000. pic.twitter.com/E4k2nqghGk |
| The US president was even moved to tweet about it: | The US president was even moved to tweet about it: |
| 70 Record Closes for the Dow so far this year! We have NEVER had 70 Dow Records in a one year period. Wow! | 70 Record Closes for the Dow so far this year! We have NEVER had 70 Dow Records in a one year period. Wow! |
| Most Asian markets have rallied today, spurred by these tax reform hopes. Europe is expected to hold onto yesterday’s gains too. | Most Asian markets have rallied today, spurred by these tax reform hopes. Europe is expected to hold onto yesterday’s gains too. |
| Hussein Sayed, chief market strategist at FXTM, explains why City traders are getting into the festive spirit. | Hussein Sayed, chief market strategist at FXTM, explains why City traders are getting into the festive spirit. |
| December has been historically a good month for equity markets. Many traders bet on the Christmas rally as a seasonal trend to benefit from. Data from 1928 shows that December has been mostly a good month for the S&P 500. It was never the worst performing month and was the best performing month four times. This time, the rally has been fueled by optimism that U.S. lawmakers are on the brink of passing a historic bill to overhaul the U.S. tax code. | December has been historically a good month for equity markets. Many traders bet on the Christmas rally as a seasonal trend to benefit from. Data from 1928 shows that December has been mostly a good month for the S&P 500. It was never the worst performing month and was the best performing month four times. This time, the rally has been fueled by optimism that U.S. lawmakers are on the brink of passing a historic bill to overhaul the U.S. tax code. |
| Getting the Republican Senate fully on board wasn’t an easy task. There’re now also question marks over the ethics of a last-minute addition to the tax bill that gives real estate owners a major tax break. Senator Rob Corker, a deficit hawk who opposed the original Senate tax bill, because it was expected to add $1 trillion to the deficit, appeared to have had a change of heart and provided his full support to the revised legislation. | Getting the Republican Senate fully on board wasn’t an easy task. There’re now also question marks over the ethics of a last-minute addition to the tax bill that gives real estate owners a major tax break. Senator Rob Corker, a deficit hawk who opposed the original Senate tax bill, because it was expected to add $1 trillion to the deficit, appeared to have had a change of heart and provided his full support to the revised legislation. |
| However, the complicated provision doesn’t seem to threaten Republicans’ chances of a success with the vote on the bill later today; with Trump signing it into law this week. | However, the complicated provision doesn’t seem to threaten Republicans’ chances of a success with the vote on the bill later today; with Trump signing it into law this week. |
| The agenda: | The agenda: |
| 9am GMT: Germany’s Institute for Economic Research (IFO) publishes its business confidence index | 9am GMT: Germany’s Institute for Economic Research (IFO) publishes its business confidence index |
| 1.30pm GMT: US housing start figures | 1.30pm GMT: US housing start figures |