Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 0.17%, Shanghai Composite up 0.75%, Hang Seng up 1.35%, ASX up 0.07%
- Commodities : Gold at $1312.40 (-0.13%), Silver at $16.49 (-0.03%), WTI Oil at $75.50 (-0.88%), Brent Oil at $69.94 (-1.12%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 2.955, UK 10-year yield at 1.399, Germany 10-year yield at 0.528
News & Data:
- (AUD) Retail Sales m/m 0.00% vs 0.20% expected
- (NZD) Inflation Expectations q/q 2.00% vs 2.10% previous
- (CNY) Trade Balance 183B vs 187B expected
- Chinese Premier Li: China, Japan to sign currency swap agreement during visit, China will grant Japan RFQII quota
- China says its trade surplus with the US expanded by nearly $7 billion last month
- The big five million: Surge in visitors to New Zealand forecast into next decade
Markets Update:
Asian markets are mostly in the green today, tracking overnight gains on the Wall Street yesterday. While the risk sentiment continues to be positive, there is some nervousness among market participants about President Trump’s announcement today, where he is expected to hit Iran with sanctions, and pull out of the nuclear deal.
However, reports have also suggested that the White House may hold off on the sanctions for now, to pressurize European allies to re-negotiate the agreement with Iran on more favourable terms.
Japanese markets started weak, but caught up later in the day. Exporters are trading higher today. Insurers have been leading gains in Hong Kong following the introduction of new guidelines by the regulator. Larger than expected trade surplus, as well as imports have helped ease trade concerns, which has been fuelled by the protectionist rhetoric from the US.
Technology stocks gained in all regions, as upbeat earnings helped overcome concerns of weakening smartphone demand. ASX continues to extend gains.
In currency markets, the dollar broadly held firm on the prospect of solid U.S. economic growth, helped partly by Trump’s tax cuts and spending, pointed to further rises in U.S. interest rates down the road. The combination of higher oil prices, a strong dollar and higher U.S. rates is risky for some emerging market assets as it could significantly worsen their trade balance and also encourage investors to shift funds to higher-yielding U.S. assets.
Upcoming Events:
- 07:15 AM GMT – (USD) Fed Chair Powell Speaks
- 07:30 AM GMT – (GBP) Halifax HPI m/m
- 09:30 AM GMT – (AUD) Annual Budget Release
- 06:00 PM GMT – (USD) Trump Announcement on Iran Nuclear Agreement
