EMERGING MARKETS-Equities buoyed by U.S. optimism as currencies dip

  • Reuters
  • Stock Market News
EMERGING MARKETS-Equities buoyed by U.S. optimism as currencies dip
Credit: © Reuters.

* MSCI EM stocks index set for 1.5% weekly gain

* MSCI EM FX index on track for 0.6% weekly decline

* South African rand poised for sharp weekly loss

* Central European markets up slightly

By Ambar Warrick

April 17 (Reuters) - Developing world stocks rose on Friday, heading towards a second straight week of gains on increased signs that the world's largest economy would soon emerge from coronavirus lockdown.

Adding to the optimism was a report detailing encouraging partial data from trials of U.S. company Gilead Sciences' GILD.O experimental drug remdesivir in severe COVID-19 patients. index of emerging market stocks .MSCIEF rose about 1.8% and was on course to finish the week up 1.5%. South African .JTOPI and Turkish equities .XU100 both gained nearly 2%.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a three-stage plan to exit the U.S. lockdown and restart the economy. came after signs that the outbreak may have peaked in U.S. and European epicentres, which bolstered risk appetite and pushed emerging markets further above lows hit in earlier stages of the outbreak.

Still, analysts warned of a long, arduous path to recovery from the economic impact of the pandemic, with China on Friday reporting a March-quarter contraction in economic growth for the first time on record. record 22 million Americans have sought unemployment benefits over the past month, with millions more filing claims last week, almost wiping out all the gains since the Great Recession. global recession remains the base case for the year and the economic outlook remains clouded with uncertainties. While policymakers are eager to limit the economic damage, the reopening of their respective countries could be upended by a swift resurgence of the coronavirus," FXTM analysts wrote in a note.

"The broad rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine is still the necessary catalyst for a return to life as it once was and would be the spark required for a sustained rally in risk assets."

This caution was partially reflected in forex activity, with most emerging market currencies gaining marginally or weakening despite a pause in the dollar's safe-haven rally. USD/

The MSCI's index of emerging market currencies .MIEM00000CUS traded flat for the day and set to lose about 0.6% on the week.

South Africa's rand ZAR= rose slightly but remained on course for a sharp weekly loss after a surprise interest rate cut by the country's central bank this week.

Hungary's forint HUF= edged up against the dollar while shares .BUX added about 1.4%. Most other central European markets were in positive teritory, albeit only just.

For GRAPHIC on emerging market FX performance in 2020, see http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh For GRAPHIC on MSCI emerging index performance in 2020, see https://tmsnrt.rs/2OusNdX

For TOP NEWS across emerging markets CENTRAL EUROPE market report, see CEE/

For TURKISH market report, see .IS

For RUSSIAN market report, see RU/RUB

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