Stock markets across Asia are mixed with the local ASX200 retreating while Chinese stock markets are closed for a holiday as Japanese bourses lift slightly. The USD is weakening going into tonight’s US unemployment print with Pound Sterling rising the sharpest.
US and Eurostoxx futures are slowly rising going into tonight’s session with the four hourly chart of the S&P 500 showing moving past previous hesitation and setting up for a return to the previous highs above 2900 points:
Japanese stock markets are looking to end the week on a very firm note with the Nikkei 225 closing 0.3% higher to 21807 points, continuing to build above its recent highs. The USDJPY pair began the morning session strongly and approached the 112 handle but slowed down in the afternoon where the failed bearish rising wedge pattern is now morphing into a stronger breakout potential above 111.80 or so:
The ASX200 has retreated again and has closed out the week below 6200 points, failing to make good on its recent breakout to be 0.8% lower to 6181 points. The Australian dollar is partially to blame as it slowing rises above the 71 handle and looks set to make a new weekly high if it can break above the weekly downtrend line:
The economic calendar ends the week with the most important release on the calendar – US non-farm payrolls, employment numbers for March.
Have a good weekend!