Asian stock markets are doing a lot better today following a really mixed trading week so far and its all down to the quite hot retail sales print in the US overnight. The USD has given up some of its overnight gains with the Australian dollar lifting back above the 69 cent level on the higher unemployment print today. Meanwhile oil prices are stabilising with Brent crude hovering around the $85USD per barrel level as gold has lifted slightly out of its depressed mood, now crossing back above the $1840USD per ounce level:
Mainland Chinese share markets have launched higher from the open with the Shanghai Composite up 0.8% to just over 3300 points while the Hang Seng has finally stopped its recent falls, up 2% to 21284 points. Japanese stock markets were able to take back their recent losses with the Nikkei 225 closing 0.7% higher at 27701 points with the USDJPY pair reverting back below the 134 handle after hitting a new weekly high overnight:
Australian stocks have rebounded fairly strongly post the unemployment print with the ASX200 gaining more than 0.8% to finish above the 7400 point level, closing at 7408 points. The Australian dollar has also fought back from its overnight volatility, breaking up through the 69 level after testing the recent weekly lows:
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