The Ibex falls after Powell's statements, although the energy sector rebounds

The Ibex 35 has fallen 0.41%, to 8,409.50 points, after the president of the Federal Reserve (Fed), Jerome Powell, gave an interview in which he indicated that they will gradually withdraw the stimuli as that they are getting closer to their objectives. However, the rise in electricity companies has offset the decline in the Spanish selective, which has reached an intraday low of 8,299 points.

"As we make substantial progress toward our goals, we will gradually reduce" the Fed's $ 120 billion monthly bond purchases, Powell said in a radio interview. His statements, less 'dovish' than usual, has not been well received by the stock markets, which have immediately increased the falls.

However, sales moderated after it was leaked that Joe Biden plans to increase his vaccination target in the US to 200 million doses during the first 100 days of his tenure.

Within the Spanish selective, Solaria, Arcelor, Repsol, Merlin, and to a lesser extent the banks have fallen sharply. Repsol has been affected by a new collapse in the price of oil, despite the blockade of the Suez Canal, due to fears regarding the economic recovery and global demand for crude oil.

On the Ibex, the news protagonist has been Santander, which will close 111 offices in the United Kingdom and lay off 600 employees. This implies 20% of its branch network and 2.6% of its workforce.

In the Continuous, today the news was DIA, which announced that it will increase capital by up to 1bn, or Adolfo Domínguez, who has announced that he will lay off 30% of its workforce.

THE NEWS FROM ASTRAZENECA, ANOTHER BURDEN

The European stock markets were already falling, although less, after AstraZeneca published the updated data on the effectiveness of its vaccine which it reduced from 79% to 76%.

The AstraZeneca crisis, which has to do both with the effectiveness of its vaccine, which is highly questioned, and with its distribution in Europe, is marking the vaccination process in the Old Continent. It's difficult for it to progress properly with so much background noise.

ATTENTION TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL ...

Another of the main focus of attention of the markets this Thursday is the virtual meeting of the leaders of the European Union (EU) to discuss the worrying situation that exists in the Old Continent, marked by the slowness of the vaccination process.

One of the priorities on the agenda is the restriction of exports of vaccines from the bloc, a measure that could mainly affect the United Kingdom, which it wants to 'punish' for the lack of flow of vaccines from England to Europe.

In the past 24 hours, the EU and the UK tried to ease tensions over vaccine exports, stating on Wednesday that they want to find a win-win solution and boost supply across the continent.

"Tensions between the EU and the UK remain quite high, despite efforts to cool the narrative (...). Sentiments remain 'skin deep', particularly on the side of the EU, where the feeling of injury is especially high, "says Michael Hewson, chief analyst at CMC Markets in London, in his daily report.

... AND TO US DATA

This Thursday's agenda includes the latest revision of the US GDP for the fourth quarter, which grows 4.3%, higher than expected.

As for weekly applications for unemployment benefits, it falls to 684,000 from the previous 781,000.

OTHER MARKETS

The euro trades at $1.1811. Oil, very volatile this week, is now down 1.5% (Brent: $ 63.45; West Texas: $ 60.08).

Gold and silver are down to $ 1,731 and $ 24.99, respectively.

Bitcoin fell 4% to $ 52,763, and Ethereum fell another 2% to $ 1,613.

The yield on the 10-year American bond falls to 1.612%.