Asian share markets are somewhat mixed with peripheral bourses lifting as risk sentiment cotnineus to firm on Wall Street but Chinese shares are the laggards in terms of risk taking. The USD is in a holding pattern against the major undollars as traders await tonight’s ECB meeting while the Australian dollar gets back above the 69 level. Oil prices are moderating again with Brent crude sliding back to the $106USD per barrel level, while gold making new lows with price solidly below the $1700USD per ounce level:
Mainland Chinese share markets are trying to clawback their early morning losses going into the close with the Shanghai Composite down 0.3% to 3293 points while the Hang Seng Index has retreated further to be lose 0.6%, currently at 20759 points. Japanese stock markets are continuing their surge, with the Nikkei 225 up 0.4% to 27803 points level while the USDJPY pair has stabilised just above the 138 handle:
Australian stocks have had another solid session, with the ASX200 closing 0.5% higher at 6794 points. The Australian dollar was able to get back from its overnight retracement to just pip above the 69 handle, holding on to a new weekly high:
Eurostoxx and US futures are lifting again as we head into the European open, with the S&P500 four hourly futures chart showing price action pushing well above the 3900 point level that equated to the former weekly highs before this weeks fill-in rally:
The economic calendar will focus squarely tonight on the latest ECB meeting and subsequent press conference. Expect interest rate fireworks!