Global Markets:
- Asian stock markets: Nikkei up 0.45 %, Shanghai Composite down 0.16 %, Hang Seng gained 0.22 %, ASX 200 rose 0.32 %
- Commodities: Gold at $1297.32 (0.65 %), Silver at $17.23 (0.58 %), WTI Oil at $51.05 (-0.49 %), Brent Oil at $56.63 (-0.54 %)
- Rates: US 10-year yield at 2.34, UK 10-year yield at 1.38, German 10-year yield at 0.46
News & Data:
- (AUD) Home Loans m/m 1.0 % vs 0.5 % expected
- (NZD) FPI m/m -0.2 % vs 0.6 % previous
- (GBP) RICS House Price Balance 6% vs 4% previous
- (JPY) Bank Lending y/y 3.0 % vs 2.6 % expected
- (JPY) Prelim Machine Tool Orders y/y 45.3 % vs 36.2 % expected
- (JPY) Jolts Job Openings 6.08 M vs 6.13 M expected
- Fed divide on inflation intensified at September policy meeting
- Oil drops on rising U.S. crude inventories, OPEC seen to extend cuts- RTRS
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific equity markets mostly Opened higher on Thursday, after Wall Street closed at record levels following the latest minutes from the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, the dollar remained on the back foot after minutes showed there remains a strong degree of caution at the Federal Reserve over the timing of future interest-rate increases.
USDJPY is currently seen Trading near today’s opening level at 112.36, As the Yen was slightly firmer against the US Dollar. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.45 percent, extending gains after finishing the Wednesday session at its highest levels since 1996. The market’s strength came despite overnight appreciation in the yen, which usually weighs on export-related stocks.
EURUSD continues to remain bullish for the 5th straight day as USD weakness continued in Asia today today as well. The Euro gained a further 0.1 percent against the US Dollar and is currently seen trading at 1.1875. The dollar was particularly weak against the euro as relief over Catalonia stopping short of a formal declaration of independence supported the common currency. The dollar index, which tracks the dollar against a basket of currencies lost close to 0.2 % is currently valued at 92.84
The Australian dollar was a notable beneficiary of the dollar weakness today. AUDUSD is currently seen trading at 0.7816 after successfully managing to break the round number 0.7800, the Aussie had tested this number yesterday but failed to hold gains. NZDUSD is currently seen trading above 0.7100 as the kiwi gained over 0.3 percent against the US Dollar.
Upcoming Events:
- 08:30 GMT – (GBP) BOE Credit Conditions Survey
- 09:00 GMT – (EUR) Industrial Production m/m
- 12:30 GMT – (CAD) NHPI m/m
- 12:30 GMT – (USD) PPI m/m
- 12:30 GMT – (USD) Unemployment Claims
- 12:30 GMT – (USD) Core PPI m/m
- 14:30 GMT – (EUR) ECB President Draghi Speaks
- 14:30 GMT – (USD) FOMC Member Brainard Speaks
- 14:30 GMT – (USD) FOMC Member Powell Speaks
- 15:00 GMT – (USD) Crude Oil Inventories
- 19:10 GMT – (CAD) Gov Council Member Wilkins Speaks
- 21:30 GMT – (NZD) Business NZ Manufacturing Index
