Investor relations blog

(No) Chaos

The term “Chaos” is a state of confusion or disorder or the lack of order. In Greek mythology, Chaos was the first primitive god to come into existence at the universe’s creation. Her name originates from the Latin ‘Khaos’, indicating the gap or the space between heaven and earth. National Chaos Never Dies Day is commemorated on November 9th of every year and encourages people to understand that chaos is part of everyday life and it will never ‘die’. There is always something in life that is chaotic and completely eradicating chaos in our own lives and in the world around us is not feasible. National Chaos Never Dies Day is meant to help us deal with the chaos and to let a sense of calm wash over us despite it. If you are overwhelmed by hectic and stress of your everyday life, National Chaos Never Dies Day is the perfect day to accept those circumstances and try to deal with that chaos.

There was however nothing ‘chaotic’ about trading markets as last trading week equity markets gained back some of the losses of “Red October”, referring to the sharp equity selloff in October. Last Thursday the MSCI world index reached a 3-week high thanks to 8 days of consecutive gains, their longest winning-streak so far in 2018, and European stocks hit a 1-month high as equity markets embraced the US midterms election results. The outcome of the US midterm elections with The Democratic Party winning control of the House of Representatives but Republicans holding the Senate, meant to investors that Trump’s large tax cuts are less likely to be reversed, and major fiscal initiatives that in the end push up yields are now less probable. Reassuring trade data from China only added to this week’s equities rally. Last Friday however global markets retreated somewhat as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) looked set to deliver another interest rate hike next month. Although the Fed decided to keep current interest rates unchanged the Fed remained on track to continue gradually raising interest rates. This year, the central bank has hiked U.S. interest rates three times and is widely expected to do so again in December.

At the end of last trading week the Ageas share closed at EUR 45.19 or up 1.7% outperforming the Eurostoxx 50 (+0.5%) and in line with the SXIP 600 Insurance index (+1.8%).