Morning wrap (15.01.2021)

• Major US indices finished yesterday's trading lower. S&P 500 dropped 0.38%, Dow Jones declined 0.22% and Nasdaq closed 0.12% lower. On the other hand, Russell 2000 rallied 2.05%

• Downbeat moods could have been spotted during trading in Asia. Nikkei dropped 0.7%, S&P/ASX 200 finished flat, Kospi declined 1.9% while indices from China traded mixed

• DAX futures point to a lower opening of the European session

• Total coronavirus death toll exceeded 2 million

• Joe Biden presented an economic stimulus package worth $1.9 trillion. $1 trillion will be spent on a direct support for households while $440 billion for the most pandemic-hit businesses among others

• Direct stimulus check will be worth $1,400 and will come on top of the previous $600 for a total payout of $2,000

• Biden says that he wants Americans to receive 100 million shots of vaccine during the first 100 days of his administration

• United States plan to sell 20 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves

• Italian Prime Minister Conte may face vote of confidence on Monday

• According to media reports, China may start allowing some imports of Australian coal

• According to UK Times, United Kingdom plans to vaccinate 500 thousand people per week

• Bitcoin has pulled back to $38,000 from yesterday's high of almost $40,000

• Oil trades lower. Platinum, palladium and silver pull back as well. Gold trades slightly higher

• AUD and NZD are the worst performing major currencies while USD and JPY gain the most

Around 750 thousand new coronavirus cases were reported yesterday. Total coronavirus death toll has exceeded 2 million. Source: worldometers, XTB