An uneasy session across Asia today as risk markets absorb the overnight news about Ukraine, the latest Fed minutes and the machinations in bond markets. The USD continued to slip against most of the major currencies although the Aussie dollar oscillated wildly on the latest unemployment print. Bitcoin failed to make good on its recent modest liftoff, while gold is holding on to its overnight gains at the $1870USD per ounce level, matching the previous near six month high:
Mainland Chinese shares are fairly mixed going into the close with the Shanghai Composite up only 0.2% to 3472 points while the Hang Seng Index has reversed yet again, down 0.4% to 24628 points. Japanese stock markets are also pulling back with the Nikkei 225 dropping back 0.7% to close at 27244 points, while the USDJPY pair is falling back in equal fashion, almost touching the 115 handle as it continues its breakdown from overnight:
Australian stocks were able to lift just at the end of the session, but only just as the ASX200 finished 0.1% higher at 7296 points while the Australian dollar had a big round trip below the 72 handle and then back again on the unemployment print, now wavering as we head into the London open and unable to clear the previous weekly high against USD:
Eurostoxx and Wall Street futures are not moving much as we head into the London open, with the S&P500 four hourly chart showing price wanting very slowly putting in a series of higher highs, but momentum is modest so it remains to be seen if it can maintain its position just above the previous support/resistance zone and the key psychological 4400 point level:
The economic calendar is relatively quiet tonight with US initial jobless claims and housing starts.