Global Markets:
- Asian stock markets: Nikkei down 0.85 %, Shanghai Composite fell 1.85 %, Hang Seng declined 1.40 %, ASX 200 lost 0.40 %
- Commodities: Gold at $1280 (+0.60 %), Silver at $17.38 (+0.30 %), WTI Oil at $44.05 (-0.60 %), Brent Oil at $44.75 (-0.60 %)
- Rates: US 10 year yield at 1.75, UK 10 year yield at 1.45, German 10 year yield at 0.16
News & Data:
- Australian AiG PCI (Apr): 50.8 (prev 45.2)
- Japan Nikkei Services PMI (Apr): 49.3 (prev 50.0)
- Japan Nikkei Composite PMI (Apr): 48.9 (prev 49.9)
- Japan Monetary Base (Apr): JPY 386.2 Tln (prev JPY 375.7 Tln)
- RBA SoMP: Inflation Expectations May Be Persistently Lower For Longer
- RBA: Cuts 2016 Underlying Inflation Forecast To 1-2% From 2-3%
- RBA: Forecasts For GDP, Unemployment Are Little Changed
- RBA: China Outlook, Debt Remains Key Uncertainty For Australia
- RBA: Will Adjust Policy As Needed To Foster Growth In Demand
- RBA: Terms Of Trade To Rise Then Return To Recent Levels By '18
Markets Update:
Markets have come to a standstill ahead of today's NFP release at 13:30 BST. EUR/USD traded in a 1.1392-1.1408 range, while GBP/USD consolidated between 1.4475 and 1.44795. USD/JPY was slightly more volatile, as Japanese traders returned from a 3-day break. The pair opened around 107.40 in Tokyo and fell to a low of 107.05 as the Nikkei declined around 1 %.
The Australian Dollar had the largest move overnight. AUD/USD fell from 0.7475 to 0.7382 after the release of the RBA meeting minutes. The main reason behind it was the lower than expected inflation forecast by the central bank. NZD/USD got dragged lower as well and fell from 0.6890 to 0.6850.
Upcoming Events:
- 08:00 BST – Spanish Industrial Production
- 08:30 BST – Bundesbank President Weidmann speaks
- 09:10 BST – Euro Zone Retail PMI
- 13:30 BST – US NFP
- 13:30 BST – US Unemployment Rate
- 13:30 BST – US Average Hourly Earnings
- 13:30 BST – Canadian Employment Change
- 13:30 BST – Canadian Unemployment Rate
- 15:00 BST – Canadian Ivey PMI
- 18:05 BST – Baker Hughes US Rig Count
- 20:00 BST – CFTC Positioning Data
