Nov 06, V7N-As the U.S. presidential election results came in on Tuesday night, global investors increasingly priced in a potential victory for Republican Donald Trump, who had taken a lead in key battleground states, though some results remained unreported. U.S. stock futures, the dollar, Treasury yields, and bitcoin all saw gains, signaling that markets were leaning in favor of a Trump win over Democrat Kamala Harris. Analysts, such as Jens Nordvig, CEO of Exante, noted that Harris was underperforming compared to 2020, which led investors to believe a Trump victory was more likely.

The results of this highly competitive and unconventional election could have wide-ranging effects on U.S. tax and trade policies, as well as institutions, influencing global assets. By 11 p.m. ET, Trump had secured 211 Electoral College votes, with Harris at 145, and a third of the vote counted. The election also saw Republicans regain control of the U.S. Senate, ensuring at least one chamber of Congress would be in GOP hands next year.

Market sentiment grew more optimistic for Trump as betting platforms and trades suggested confidence in his victory. Nick Ferres, CIO of Vantage Point Asset Management, highlighted that higher interest rates were expected, with investors buying bank shares in anticipation of stronger growth. Bank stocks in Tokyo rose by 4.4%, outperforming the market in Australia.

Meanwhile, Trump Media and Technology Group shares surged 10% in extended trading, reflecting investor optimism. The Mexican peso dropped to a two-year low, weakened by fears that a Trump administration would reintroduce trade tariffs, and the euro also fell, concerned that Europe would face tariffs and increased defense costs under a Trump presidency.

Bitcoin reached a record high in Asia, betting on a more favorable regulatory approach to cryptocurrencies under Trump. Ben Emons of Fedwatch Advisors noted that markets were growing confident the election result would be clear soon, unlike in 2020 when Joe Biden’s victory took several days to confirm.

Despite the confidence, several investors, including Alex Jaros and Joe McCann, described a tense and volatile atmosphere, as election results remained uncertain. McCann, who was tracking the election from his Miami penthouse, said, “We are expecting a volatile night,” reflecting the heightened anticipation in financial circles.

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