Stock markets rise as economies shake off lockdowns

Jun 03, 2020: World stock markets rose Tuesday as coronavirus lockdowns were relaxed, with investors shrugging off mass protests in the US and a downcast outlook from the head of the World Bank.

In Europe, Frankfurt was the star performer as German investors played catch-up after a long holiday weekend and eyed hopes for a new COVID-19 domestic stimulus package.

Paris -- which saw cafes and bars reopen for outdoor service -- also ended solidly higher.

Wall Street stocks continued to advance, ending solidly higher as investors focused on the boost from stimulus measures and economic reopening rather than the mass protests sweeping through US cities.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished with a gain of 1.1 percent at 25,742.65.

"The market is very focused on what the future holds and at the same time the liquidity that is available to the market is very high because there is no shortage of stimulus," said Nate Thooft, senior managing director at Manulife Investment Management.

"So, despite all the negative macro and all the negative economic data, people are of the view that it can only get better from now."

Oil marched higher on hopes of recovering demand and amid speculation that key producers including Saudi Arabia and Russia will extend massive output cuts that have helped support the virus-plagued market.

But World Bank President David Malpass warned that estimates of $5 trillion in economic value destroyed by the COVID-19 lockdown measures likely falls far short of the actual damage that will be done.

"The countries are facing the deepest global recession since World War II," Malpass told AFP. "And that should keep lots of people up at night worrying about the consequences for the poor, for the vulnerable within those economies, for children, for healthcare workers, all facing unprecedented challenges."

Among individual companies, Lufthansa shares soared after the airline's supervisory board approved a nine billion euro ($10-billion) bailout from the German government.

Dick's Sporting Goods won 3.7 percent despite reporting a $143.4 million first-quarter loss as the retailer more than doubled its e-commerce sales.

- Key figures around 2040 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 1.1 percent at 25,742.65 (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 0.8 percent at 3,080.82 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.6 percent at 9,608.37 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.9 percent at 6,220.14 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 3.8 percent at 12,021.28 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 2.0 percent at 4,858.97 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 2.6 percent at 3,159.02 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 22,325.61 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.1 percent at 23,995.94 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 2,921.40 (close)

Brent North Sea crude: UP 3.3 percent at $39.57 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 3.9 percent at $36.81 per barrel

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1166 from $1.1136 at 2100 GMT

Dollar/yen: UP at 108.69 yen from 107.59 yen

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2550 from $1.2492

Euro/pound: DOWN at 88.96 pence from 89.15 pence.

AFP/APP