Another mixed day on stock markets across Asia despite the solid lead from Wall Street overnight with currency markets relatively stable as the latest Chinese data came in better than expected. The Shanghai Composite failed to make good on the trifecta of releases, down nearly 0.6% going into the close at 2956 points while the
By Chris Becker Wall Street took back its previous mild losses overnight while European bourses were hesistant to move forward despite a supposed “new deal” for Brexit and a possible ceasefire in Syria. While US stocks gained, Treasuries gravitated around the 1.80% level again, as Brent and WTI crude oil prices lifted solidly on the
A somewhat mixed day on stock markets across Asia as the poor lead from Wall Street and the drop in USD overnight seeing sentiment shift from the positive mood at the start of the week. Today’s better than expected unemployment print saw the Aussie dollar jump while gold also rose among the undollar assets. The
By Chris Becker Wall Street pulled back slightly overnight with a mixed Europe also weighing on positive sentiment as retail data disappointed and UK CPI came in lower than expected. Lack of news on a looming Brexit deal kept the continental currencies elevated slightly, while the US retail sales print saw USD flop, spiking Aussie
A generally positive day across Asian risk markets excepting mainland China, following the good mood on Wall Street overnight. The Australian dollar continued to tank following yesterday’s release of the RBA minutes while the NZD was relatively stable despite an uptick in monthly CPI. Yen strengthened slightly after a big breakout in USD strength overnight
By Chris Becker The prospect of a potential Brexit deal and the partial US-China trade deal took stocks to a four week high despite the ongoing Turkish/Syria tensions. US Treasury yields jumped, pushing US stocks higher while commodity prices slipped as the USD was largely unchanged as Pound Sterling jumped to a near six month
A generally positive day across Asian risk markets with a good response to the latest Federal Reserve cut, as the USD continued its gains against most of the majors. The Australian dollar tanked on the rise in unemployment which buoyed the local stock market, and this afternoon the BOJ held to its course, sending Yen
By Chris Becker The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates as expected overnight at the FOMC meeting, but the response has been mixed across risk markets. The USD rose significantly against the majors, although gold was spared, with Treasury yields jumping across the curve. Stock markets were less fussed, with scratch sessions dominating across both
Caution reigns across Asia with the somewhat positive mood on Wall Street unable to be translated into any meaningful gains on stock markets, with bonds moving higher and USD firming. The Shanghai Composite was the standout however, coming back from yesterday’s slump to finish nearly 0.3% higher at 2985 points, still below the 3000 point
By Chris Becker Markets are being pushed around by central bank speculation and a calming of the nerves surrounding the Saudi oil supply crunch with a surprise build in oil inventory cutting the recent gap higher in half for both WTI and Brent crude prices. The USD fell back against the majors with the Euro
Quite a mixed session across Asia today with Chinese stocks slumping, Australian advancing while the long weekend dampener has seen Japanese bourses remain steady, despite a weaker Yen. Oil prices haven’t moved much since their weekend gap, but this could be the calm before the storm as OPEC is due to hold a press conference
By Chris Becker The oil crisis in Saudi Arabia dominated the headlines overnight, pushing stock markets down and sending WTI and Brent crude prices nearly 14% higher. Other safe havens like Yen and gold continued to lift from their Asian sessions, while Treasury yields fell back amidst an absence of economic events. Commodity currencies remain
It’s an almost risk off day here in Asia as markets react to the weekend attack on Saudi oil production by the Yemeni’s, producing the inevitable spike in crude prices, gapping nearly 10% or so before moderating this afternoon. Other safe havens have seen a bid, most notably Yen but also gold which got back
By Chris Becker Friday night saw US stocks tread water despite a better than expected retail sales print with US Treasury yields instead spiking higher, dragged along by German bunds despite the ECB’s Thursday announcement of easing and more QE. In currency land, Pound Sterling continued its rise while Euro made it a new monthly
The risk on mood in Asia continues with very solid rises in Japan and China, with local markets drifting only a little higher as currency and commodity pressure weighs. The ECB QE outcome from last night is still rippling through currency markets with the Euro ready to surge higher again tonight. The Shanghai Composite is
By Chris Becker A volatile night on currency markets as the ECB cut rates and restarted its QE program in the face of a continental recession and Brexit concerns. Stocks rose mildly in response however, while bond yields are weirdly higher, including Euro! Oil prices fell back again while gold was largely unchanged, but remained
The risk on mood has increased here in Asia with solid rises across most stock markets, although locally the ASX200 is dragging its feet. This is all due to the delay in Chinese tariffs, with bond yields rising and oil prices still under pressure post-Bolton “firing”. The Shanghai Composite is making a comeback, currently up
By Chris Becker The positive mood is quickening with overnight markets reacting to the upside on US-China trade talks with US Treasury yields hitting a one month high. The firing of NSA John Bolton saw oil price drop, plus talk of easing of sanctions on Iran, while US PPI inflation figures were upbeat, lifting USD
Its been a more upbeat mood here in Asia compared to overnight markets with everything outside China moving higher. Gold is trying to consolidate below $1500USD per ounce while the Aussie dollar has spiked following a rally in bank stocks as all eyes focus on the ECB’s upcoming meeting. The Shanghai Composite is the exception
By Chris Becker Another mixed night on equity markets at least with currency markets stabilising going into tomorrow nights ECB meeting, with bonds selling off on the possibility of a cooling trade war with China. A possible hot war with Iran is likely to be averted as National Security Advisor John Bolton got the tweet
While the usual safe havens are weaker, Asian share markets are still quite mixed with Chinese markets and their satellites falling back, while the Japanese bourses seemed decoupled and continue higher. Gold has come off again, falling nearly $10 USD to be well below $1500USD per ounce, while the upcoming OPEC meeting is setting oil
By Chris Becker A mixed night again on Wall Street with concern over a no-deal Brexit easing slightly as Boris finds his deadline curtailed by Parliamentary law – so now he’s going to suspend it! Pound Sterling lept higher, dragging Euro with it while the Aussie fell back slightly but remains quite strong against King
A mixture of solid advances and staid scratch session across Asian share markets as we start the week post US employment print on Friday, which should set the tone for the month ahead, but there’s so many other catalysts – and volatility measures like Trump’s tweets – that are pushing this once solid economic event
By Chris Becker A mixed Friday on Wall Street with concern over a slightly disappointing US employment print sending stocks to scratch finishes, while interest rates the USD finished lower, although gold dropped against USD as well. European bourses did better, but not by much so its a case of caution through the weekend to
A sea of green across Asian share markets to finish the week in a mood of optimism as more “talks” about the trade war between US and China scare away the short sellers. Gold has hung on despite a big inversion overnight while USD has risen against Yen and Yuan, with the Australian dollar still
By Chris Becker Its all about trade talks again overnight with US stocks leading the charge, European stocks also surging while the FTSE retraced as a higher Pound Sterling and more Brexit chaos takes a toll. The services ISM was surprised to the upside, helping boost sentiment and taking some heat out of gold which
A boost to optimism across risk markets today, following potential upside to the continued US-China trade talks, but this seems like a repeat of the last time! A bit of market manipulation from both sides is at hand with the PBOC again strengthening the Yuan, with gold falling slightly as the USD strengthens nearly across
By Chris Becker Stocks came back on both sides of the Atlantic overnight despite a fall in USD, positive sentiment building due to the Hong Kong situation changing for the better, while Boris had another failure in his Brexit plans. Bond markets were relatively stable while gold continued to leap to new highs, with commodity
Outside of Hong Kong, it was a staid session across Asian stock markets today as risk tread water in reaction to the poor lead from Wall Street and the deepening Brexit drama overnight. Locally, the latest GDP print has added to the poor macroeconomic picture, with traders betting that the RBA will do 2/5ths of
By Chris Becker US markets reopened overnight, and were flummoxed by a weak ISM manufacturing print that retracted for the first time in three years, sending risk sentiment in negative territory. Stocks and the USD fell while Treasuries rallied sending the 10 year yield down to a three year low, hovering just above 1.43% as
