Kayaking in the Cook Islands, 2019: Photo by H. Becker
A record number of COVID cases in Germany is dampening spirits again going into the final session of the week with most Asian stock markets in retreat mode. Bitcoin is slowly deflating again, down below the $18000 level this time, while gold has been unable to get back on track after its recent falls, currently treading water at the $1840USD per ounce level:
The Shanghai Composite is falling sharply going into the close, currently down over 1% to 3338 points while in Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index has again gone the other way, up nearly 0.4% to 26522 points. Japanese stock markets are falling over with the Nikkei 225 down 0.4% to 26646 points while the USDJPY pair has failed to push back above trailing ATR resistance at the 104.40 level, heading right back to the start of week 104 handle level:
The ASX200 was the worst in the region, down 0.6% again to 6642 points and completely unable to make a move above the 6700 point level stick, not helped at all by a zooming Australian dollar which is pausing slightly here at the mid 75s after its big breakout previously:
Eurostoxx and S&P futures are deflating again with the four hourly chart of the S&P500 showing price hovering on the recent session lows at the 3660 point level as momentum heads deep into negative territory:
The economic calendar ends the week with the latest German inflation print and then the closely watched Michigan consumer confidence survey.