The price of 10-year Spanish government bonds fell, pushing yields to 7.13%, surpassing the 7% level at which Greece, Portugal and Ireland started to lose access to capital markets. Meanwhile, the ratio of past-due loans held by Spanish banks jumped to an 18-year high, further evidence of debt problems in the country.
That overshadowed the New Democracy party’s narrow victory in Greece’s election Sunday, which eased fears the country would face an abrupt and unruly exit from the euro zone. However, the New Democracy party has yet to form a coalition government and if they are unsuccessful, Greece must face another round of elections.
European stocks were mixed, with the Stoxx Europe 600 increasing 0.1%. Spain’s IBEX-35 stock index slumped -3%. Asian markets were broadly higher following Greece’s election results, with Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average surging 1.8% and China’s Shanghai Composite rising 0.4%.
U.S. home builders’ sentiment ticked up in June to the highest level in more than five years, edging out economists’ expectations, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ housing market index. Shoe retailer DSW fell -11.34$ after it announced that second quarter earnings had trailed industry projections. Extrorre Gold Mines (XG) raged todaty after it agreed to be acquired by Yamana Gold, it finished the day up nearly 60%. Finally, Infinity Pharmaceuticals (INFI) dropped -7.46% after the company said it stopped a Phase 2 trial of its treatment for bone and cartilage cancers, citing disappointing clinical data.
Thomas Doherty is an undergraduate at Villanova University majoring in Finance and Economics. Thomas@KeeneOnTheMarket.com