A weak session on Asian stock markets with confidence lagging in response to the attack on Poland overnight with the USD climbing slightly higher on the safe haven bid. While Euro is steady, Pound Sterling has pulled back while the Australian dollar is maintaining a strong position above the 67 cent level. Oil prices are still dead flat however with Brent crude hovering around the $93USD per barrel level while gold is surprisingly still holding on to its recent big surge, currently at the $1772USD per ounce level but looking stretched:
Mainland Chinese share markets are losing confidence going into the close with the Shanghai Composite down nearly 0.3% at 3127 points while the Hang Seng Index has lost ground, but its all relative given the recent surges, currently off more than 1% at 18133 points. Japanese stock markets are putting in scratch sessions with barely any change, the Nikkei 225 closing at 28003 points, while the USDJPY pair has seen a small lift higher, getting just above the 140 handle but looking extremely weak on the four hourly chart:
Australian stocks were unable to advance again today with the ASX200 closing 0.2% lower at 7116 points. The Australian dollar is treading water although its maintaining a strong position here above the 67 handle, with four hourly momentum consolidating while resistance overhead needs to be cleared soon:
Eurostoxx and US futures are holding on to their overnight gains despite the macro volatility, with the S&P500 four hourly chart showing price action still contained just below the 4000 point level as support remains firm below:
The economic calendar has a few key releases tonight with UK inflation, the ECB financial stability review and US retail sales prints.