Risk markets in Asia are responding positively to possible news that the Republican shutdown of the US government may finally be coming to an end with the Senate passing a spending bill. Futures for Wall Street and undollars like gold and the Australian dollar have gapped higher as well with the latter leaping above the 65 cent level for a new weekly high.
Oil markets are steady with Brent crude holding just above the $63USD per barrel level while gold is getting well back on trend with a surge above the $4000USD per ounce level to make a new monthly high:
Mainland Chinese share markets are steady going into the close with the Shanghai Composite remaining just below the 4000 point barrier while the Hang Seng Index is doing a lot better, up 0.6% at 26403 points. Japanese stock markets are performing the best in the region with the Nikkei 225 up more than 0.8% to get back above the 50000 point level with the USDPY pair has almost breached the 154 handle in a big gap up move:
Australian stocks are doing well with the ASX200 closing nearly 0.7% higher at 8822 points while the Australian dollar has bounced back above the 65 cent level against USD:
S&P and Eurostoxx futures are leaping higher amid the US shutdown news going into the London session with the S&P500 four hourly chart showing the market wanting to get back above the 6800 point level:
The economic calendar starts the trading week quietly with some Treasury auctions and not much else.