Daily Market Review 14.07.2015

STOCKS 

Get Ready for the Windows 10 Launch: Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is planning to go all out for the launch of Windows 10 which is expected to take place on the 29th of July. To get everyone in the celebrating mood, the tech giant has provided more details as to how the company will celebrate the birth of its software upgrade. Once thing we know for sure, Microsoft is planning to make this far bigger than when Windows 8 hit the streets. In conjunction with the release, Microsoft’s marketing campaign is built on the message of "upgrading the world" which the company is planning to do by offering consumers a bit of help with shifting to Windows 10. In addition, anyone who needs assistance with the software can visit Microsoft stores, as well as retailers like Wal-Mart, Staples and Best Buy, which will all provide in-store upgrade assistance as well as "experience stations" so one can try out Windows 10. On the 29th of July, Windows 10 will be made available to five million beta testers and the software will then be rolled out to everyone else. According to Bloomberg, this means that Windows 10 will not be available for new computers sold on that day. Users can then simply upgrade their new computer inside a store or one can join the Windows 10 download queue. As part of their launch, Microsoft is also committing to support 10 global firms by donating $10 million as well as an additional 100 smaller outfits in 10 countries. In addition to the cash, Microsoft will help to organize initiatives to "upgrade the world" while Microsoft staff has also been granted an extra day off so that employees can upgrade their local communities to Windows 10 on launch day. Microsoft is currently trading at $45.54 a share.

INDICES  

On Monday, U.S. stocks closed sharply higher. This came in response to positive investor sentiment regarding Greece as the country and its creditors finally reached an agreement for a third bailout program. As a result, a potential ‘Grexit’ was averted. Meanwhile, the main indices recorded their 3rd consecutive session of gains while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose by more than 200 points for the 2nd session in a row. The blue chip index advanced 1.2%, or 217.27 points, to 17,977.68, with only one of its members closing lower. Also, the S&P 500 index (SPX) advanced 1.1%, or 22.98 points, to 2,099.60. All 10 main sectors on the index finished with gains which were led by consumer discretionary and technology stocks. Also on the upside was the Nasdaq Composite index (COMP) which climbed 1.5%, or 73.82 points, to 5,071.51.

CURRENCIES

On Monday, the U.S. dollar (USD) traded higher. This came in response to the news that eurozone leaders had reached an agreement with regards to a new bailout for Greece following marathon weekend-long talks. Greece now has until Wednesday this week to pass new legislation in order to cut pension payments, increase sales taxes, as well as enforce automatic cuts on spending should the next budget miss its targets before negotiations on a 3rd bailout program can begin. The EUR/USD traded down 1.25% at 1.1016, while the EUR/JPY was also down 0.76% and trading at 136.00. Also, the USD/JPY traded at 123.45, up 0.56%, the GBP/USD traded at 1.5521, up 0.15% while the USD/CAD advanced 0.88% to 1.2766. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar index traded at 96.89, up 0.96%.

COMMODITIES

On Tuesday, crude oil prices declined in Asian trading. This comes as investors now shift their focus to the stockpile industry estimates expected out of the US today as well as demand and supply cues on Iran. Today, the API (American Petroleum Institute) will release figures on last week’s crude and refined stocks which will then be followed by data release on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Energy. Meanwhile, WTI crude oil for delivery in August traded at $51.78 a barrel, down 0.80 percent. On Monday, Brent crude oil for delivery in August traded at $58.17 a barrel, down 1.38%, or $0.81, on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in London.

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