Macro Afternoon

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A mixed end to the trading week here in Asia as risk positions for tonight’s US unemployment print that will set the tone for the rest of January, post the Iranian crisis. Meanwhile, the PBOC daily Yuan fix saw another drop in offshore trading while the latest retail sales print pushed the Aussie dollar slightly higher.

The Shanghai Composite is putting in a scratch session, currently down nearly 0.2% to 3090 points, while the Hang Seng Index is hovering along without much upside, finishing only 0.2% higher at 28603 points, still well supported:

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Japanese share markets simmered down, in sympathy with the slowdown in the Yen selloff against USD with the Nikkei 225 putting in a modest 0.4% return to 23833 points. The four hourly chart of the USDJPY pair shows this deceleration back up to the previous post Xmas breakdown highs:

The ASX200 was instead the best in the region, making a new record high by closing 0.8% higher to 6929 points. Go stocks! The Australian dollar remains stuck in a holding pattern but still managed to put on a few points post the surprising uptick in November retail sales – but the four hourly chart remains poised here:

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Both S&P and Eurostoxx futures are suggesting another higher tonight, making more record highs as all the shorts are wiped out:

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The economic calendar will focus squarely on tonights NFP/US unemployment print. Have a good weekend!