by Chris Becker
Asian share markets are broadly gaining in line with European and American stocks overnight, with better US/China relations the perceived catalyst. First of all, gold remains relatively steady but weak as it hovers just above the $1930USD per ounce level at terminal support from last weeks retracement:
In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite is slipping a little, down 0.2% to 3377 points while in Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index has stumbled as well down 0.4% to 25432 points. Japanese stock markets however are doing a lot better, with the Nikkei 225 closing 1.3% higher at 23296 points, with the USDJPY pair starting to gain momentum and lift higher through the 106 handle:
The ASX200 had a solid session as well, gaining just on 0.5% to 6161 points as earning season rolls on while the Australian dollar remains contained here below the 72 handle as the USD firms:
Eurostoxx futures are up 0.4% or so while S&P futures are up even further as nothing can stop the Wall Street juggernaut, lifting on any whiff of good/bad/indifferent news, with the S&P500 four hourly chart showing a further likely tonight well above the 3400 point level:
