Daily summary: Wall Street rallies ahead of Big Tech earnings

• European jumped to over 9-month high, with German DAX added 2.16%, buoyed by gains across technology and auto stocks.

• Both BoE and ECB raised interest rates by a widely expected 50 bps

• ECB's Lagarde all but guaranteed another 50 bp at the March meeting. Later ECB sources revealed that policymakers expect at least two more rate hikes.   

• Despite the ECB not providing a more dovish tone like its US and UK counterpart, risk appetite remained supported by speculation that the tightening cycle is about to end. 

• S&P500 and Nasdaq extended post FED-rally and gains 1.40% and 3.15% respectively, further boosted by upbeat results from Facebook parent Meta Platforms, whose stock skyrocketed by 26.0%.

• Tesla surges over 6.0% as company plans increase production in China.

• Dow Jones is lagging behind, as markets reassessed the latest FED decision and monetary policy outlook. 

• Now investors will focus on earnings reports from US megatech stocks - Apple, Amazon, Alphabet and tomorrow’s NFP report.

• Energy commodities are trading slightly lower. Natgas oscillates below the flatline despite US utilities pulled 151 bcf of gas from storage during the week ended January 27, slightly more than market expectations of a 142 bcf fall.

• Meanwhile OIL.WTI  fell 2.5% and tested resistance at $75.00, however buyers managed to erase majority losses later in the session.

• Precious metals pulled back sharply as a stronger dollar overshadowed lower treasury yields. Gold broke below major support at $1920, while silver bounced off recent highs at $24.60 and approaches $23.50 mark.

• The dollar index regained ground on Thursday, bouncing off a nine-month low of 100.8 to trade around the 101.6 mark. Euro and the British pound weakened against the greenback after latest ECB and BoE decisions.

• EURUSD pir tested a crucial support zone around 1.09, while GBPUSD returned to daily lows at 1.2240, despite BoE gov. Bailey hawkish comments.

• Major cryptocurrencies also benefit from risk-on sentiment. Bitcoin finally climbed above the $24000 mark, while Ethereum jumped nearly 5.0% and tested resistance at $1700.

US30 remains subdued despite overall positive sentiment. Nevertheless as long as the index sits above major support at 33720, another upward impulse towards resistance at 35100 pts may be launched. Source: xStation5