US Close 23 Mar 16: Brussels attack initially impacted markets but by the close Euro indices higher.

European shares initially fell on news of terror attacks in Belgium. An estimated 34 people were killed in two bomb blasts in Brussels. The STOXX Europe 600 Travel and Leisure index fell by 1.8% while key luxury good stocks fell by between 1.1-3.4%. But technology and auto stocks rose, offsetting losses in other sectors. And there was positive data on business and consumer sentiment. The FTSEurofirst 300 index fell by 0.1% but the German Dax rose by 0.4% while the UK FTSE lifted by 0.1%. In London trade, shares in BHP Billiton eased by 0.3% while Rio Tinto lost 1.0%.

 

* In US economic news the Richmond Federal Reserve index rose from minus 4 to +22 in March with the manufacturing shipments index up from minus 11 to +27. The FHFA home price index rose by 0.5% in January to be up 6.0% over the year. And chain store sales were up 0.8% in the latest week compared with a year ago, up from 0.6% in the previous week.

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