Australian Shares

By Chris Becker  Wall Street edged to a nominal new record high overnight but only just as the USD rose against most of the majors, Pound Sterling in particular falling as the hard Brexit firms.

Asian markets are aligning again with overseas risk taking with optimism surrounding the US/China trade deal building as the USD strengthens again vs the undollar assets.

By Chris Becker  It’s all about record highs on stock markets in the wake of the US/China “phase one” trade deal with Wall Street bounding to a new high, dragging risk assets along for the ride.

A mixed start to the trading week here in Asia with only the ASX200 putting on outsized gains, namely due to a weaker Aussie dollar and a solid trifecta of economic prints from China.

Via FTAlphaville: Boris has won.

So says Bloomie: In 2011 and 2012, it was Europe’s credit crisis.

By Chris Becker  It was all about the US/China “phase one” trade deal on Friday night markets with a surprising reversal after the usual all-in sentiment moved to one of caution, with scratch results on Wall Street the result.

Everything is awesome as the Tories look set to wipe out any chance of the UK remaining both in the EU and in, well union as risk takers take the cue that the US/China trade deal is done as well, sending the USD down against almost everything but gold.

A very mixed session across the region today as risk taking diverges as a result of a more accommodative Federal Reserve overnight which sent USD lower against all the major currencies, which affected the ASX200 the most.

By Chris Becker  Last night saw the release of the latest US CPI print which nudged slightly higher, sending stocks higher as well but following that the FOMC decided to keep rates on hold which put stock futures into a little tizzy.

Japanese stocks tread water today as other markets leaped ahead on the news that the Twit-in-Chief may delay the upcoming December 15 tariffs, although currency markets were relatively stable as were gold and Bitcoin.

Via the AFR: “As a result of lower long-term interest rates our cost of capital has naturally lowered over recent years,” Medibank chief executive Craig Drummond told The Australian Financial Review’s annual Chanticleer CEO poll.

An income-dependent Boomer mate recently asked me what I thought of Listed Investment Companies and Listed Investment Trusts (LIC and LITs).

By Chris Becker  Yet another night of second guessing again on overseas markets with stocks putting in scratch sessions while the USD oscillated against many undollar assets with Bitcoin falling, gold rising alongside Euro and Aussie dollar sinking to a new weekly low.

Traders across the region are twiddling their thumbs as stock markets hold steady following a lacklustre night on the other side of the world for risk taking.

The word is spreading, via Bloomie: Australia is expected to post the worst profit growth in Asia next year as a weak domestic economy stokes consumer caution and the banking sector deals with a litany of scandals.

By Chris Becker  Markets were kept guessing again overnight on the direction or implementation of the December 15 China tariffs with a clawback of Friday nights exuberance on both sides of the Atlantic.

Stocks across the region had a less than mild response to the stonking NFP print on Friday night, with gains only half that of their northern hemisphere brothers.

By Chris Becker  Friday night saw the big event on the calendar – the latest US unemployment figures via the non-farm payrolls (NFP) – which set the tone for the rest of the month and indeed year for risk taking.

Stocks are moving slightly higher across Asia desptie the scratch sessions on Wall Street overnight as a new round of optimism for the US/China trade quagmire gathers pace, just before the all important non-farm payroll/unemployment print later tonight.

Via Saxo: Summary: Equities continue to rally although the first week of December has been more choppy due to mixed trade headlines from the US and China.

By Chris Becker  A mixed night on risk markets with the positive sentiment fading goign into the weekend, as no news on a US/China trade deal is construed as bad news.

Stocks are advancing across Asia in the wake of optimism that a trade deal between US and China can be struck before the December 15 tariffs kick in, with the ASX up over 1% while the USD treads water against most of the majors.

By Chris Becker  A big reversal in sentiment overnight as stock markets reacted positively to the speculation that the December 15 US/China tariffs may be avoided with a secure trade deal.

Another rough day here on Asian stock markets with some fluctuation in USD weakness as the upcoming December 15 China tariffs are seeming to firm.