A staid session for Asian stocks as the US debt ceiling impasse has again failed to clear any hesitation around risk markets. Currency markets remain poised as well with the Australian dollar still quite depressed, continuing at its recent weekly low around the mid 66 cent level.
Oil prices are lifting slightly from their Friday night hesitant moves, with Brent crude just above the $76USD per barrel level while gold has failed to hold onto its snap rally before the weekend, still quite below the key $2000USD per ounce level and almost back at its recent weekly low at the $1962 level:
Mainland Chinese share markets are moving lower with the Shanghai Composite down nearly 1% at 3264 points while the Hang Seng is following suit, down 0.8% to remain well shy of the 20000 point level, currently at 19513 points. Japanese stock markets are finally taking a day off after huge outperformance, with the Nikkei 225 down around 0.5% to close at 30957 points with the USDJPY pair also unable to advance, steadying from its Friday night pullback at the mid 138 handle.
