Top tech stocks are in correction territory. Here’s why

Jeroen Blokland, a portfolio manager at Robeco, thinks that as estimates for economic growth continue to improve, so-called “value” stocks in sectors like banking — which benefit from a healthy economy — may begin to get a second look.

“If you believe in this whole reopening and estimates of GDP growth … that means growth is less scarce,” he told me. “[Then the] value sector has at least the possibility to play catch up.”

See here: The KBW Bank Index, which tracks top US lenders, is up more than 20% this year. And the Dow Jones gained 400 points in Monday morning trade. But the Nasdaq, which has almost wiped out all of its 2021 gains, was little changed.

Many strategists think the declines are healthy, and that share prices of many tech companies shot up too much, too fast.

Continued selling may hinge on what we hear from central bankers in the coming days. The European Central Bank, which meets later this week, has stated clearly that it will take some action if it believes the rapid increase in bond yields will lead to tighter financial conditions. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has been less explicit.

Blokland thinks that if the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note marches significantly higher this week, Powell may have no choice but to strongly assert that the Fed will act as necessary to ensure the economic recovery isn’t affected by market turmoil.

“If we have another week like last week, [he has] to do something,” Blokland said.

Oil jumps above $70 per barrel after attack of Saudi facilities

Bolstering fears about inflation is the rapid run-up in oil prices.

The latest: Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, jumped above $70 per barrel on Monday for the first time since January 2020.

The gains came after Saudi Arabia reported that a drone and missile strike had targeted military sites and oil facilities, including petroleum tank farms at the Ras Tanura port, a crucial global terminal for oil exports. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have taken responsibility for the attack.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency has reported that the attacks did not result in any injuries or property damage.

But the incident was enough to push up oil prices, which have rallied in recent months after plunging early in the pandemic.

“This was the most bullish outcome we could have expected,” JPMorgan strategist Natasha Kaneva said in a note to clients.

Many analysts, however, thought it would take longer for oil to trade above $70 per barrel again. JPMorgan predicted that Brent oil prices would average between $68 and $69 per barrel this spring and summer before breaking above $70 per barrel in September.

Brent could struggle to hold the $70 level. But if crude prices remain this strong, it may force investors to rethink their positions — especially those worried that higher prices will force an intervention from policymakers.

Deliveroo’s IPO is a win for post-Brexit London

The food delivery startup is planning a blockbuster offering, my CNN Business colleague Charles Riley reports. The company has seen business surge during the pandemic. Last year, the total value of transactions processed on the company’s platform increased by 64% to £4.1 billion ($5.7 billion).

Watch this space: The tech company still posted an underlying loss of £224 million ($310 million) in 2020, raising questions about its valuation. The listing is expected to value Deliveroo at more than $7 billion, according to Reuters, but other media reports have pegged the target at up to $10 billion.

“This valuation of Deliveroo seems eopxcessive for a business which is still many years from profit,” said John Colley, associate dean of Warwick Business School.

Regardless, the announcement will be touted as a win by the UK government.

Eager to buck the trend, the UK government said last week that it would review rules that prohibit companies with dual class structures from joining major FTSE indexes. Deliveroo said Monday that it will list with dual class shares, replicating the structure that has allowed tech founders including Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg to go public while maintaining control of their companies.

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