Business

Markets calm, but fears of 'dead cat bounce'

14:53 pm on 30 June 2016

Global sharemarkets plunged over three days after the UK voted last week to leave the European Union.

New York Stock Exchange Photo: AFP

New Zealand wasn't immune - but the NZX50 index did manage a 30-point gain yesterday to end at 6,717.

The kiwi held up, tracking around the 70 US cent level, and at over 95 Australian cents.

European, Asian and US markets were hit heavily after the Brexit vote, but there were gains overnight as bargain-hunters searched for cheap stocks.

The Dow Jones index closed up about 1.5 percent and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite finished stronger.

Safe-haven gold eased a touch, while Brent Crude Oil made gains.

However the overnight rally could turn out to be a "dead cat bounce" - a temporary recovery after a major fall.

Chief executive of online investment company Nutmeg, Nick Hungerford, said volatility and uncertainty were here to stay in the short-term.

With the pound falling to a three decade low against the US dollar, buyers were swooping on the currency.

"People like hedge funds...they are going jump on bandwagon for what they see as cheap and easy and pretty much free money," he said.

Nick Hungerford said officials needed to tell the markets to stay calm.