Trump tax bill drives world markets to record highs – business live

David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets, predicts that Britain’s blue-chip stock index could hit a record highs this week.

He writes:

The FTSE 100 has hit its highest level on over one month as the optimism from across the pond is catching on over here.

The British equity benchmark has snapped out of the downward trend that it was since early November, and should the positive run continue we could see it hit 7600 before Christmas.

The Footsie’s previous record intraday high is 7,598 points, set in June this year. It’s currently trading at 7,556.

Financial services group Old Mutual is leading the FTSE 100 risers, up 3.8%, after agreeing to sell part of its investment business to TA Associates in a deal worth £600m.

Although shares are rallying, the bond market isn’t as excited by the new US tax reforms.

That may be because bond traders are anticipating a jump in US borrowing in the coming years, as Congress’s tax cuts drive up the deficit.

Kit Juckes of Societe Generale explains that bond prices have fallen slightly (pushing up the interest rate, or yield, on US 10-year bonds):

A wafer-thin majority is going to be enough to get the US Tax Bill onto president Trump’s desk though first, there’s the 10-hour debate to get through. Sometime tonight/tomorrow, there will be jubilation from those who aren’t gnashing their teeth.

10-year Note yields have ‘jumped’ to 2.39% and TIPS are at 48bp, so you can almost feel the anticipation in FIC-land (not).

The reaction is equity markets is more seasonally-apt, with new S&P/Dow highs and a positive mood in much of Asia.

[FIC=fixed income (government and corporate bonds) and currencies.]

IFO believes that German business confidence has been hit by the breakdown in coalition talks.

But despite this small drop in morale, Germany’s economy has had a bumper year.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.