Global Markets:
- Asian stock markets: Nikkei up 4.35 %, Shanghai Composite rose 2.25 %, Hang Seng rallied 2.70 %, ASX 200 gained 2.20 %
- Commodities: Gold at $1128 (-0.15 %), Silver at $14.82 (-0.55 %), WTI Oil at $34.00 (-1.10 %), Brent Oil at $36.70 (-0.30 %)
- Rates: US 10 year yield at 1.83, UK 10 year yield at 1.41, German 10 year yield at 0.15
News & Data:
- Australia GDP SA (QoQ) Q4: 0.6% (exp 0.4% prev 0.9%)
- Australia GDP (YoY) Q4: 3.0% (exp 2.5% prev 2.5%)
- Australia HIA New Home Sales (MoM) Jan: 3.1% (prev 6.0%)
- UK BRC Shop Price Index (YoY) Feb: -2.0% (prev -1.8%)
- South Korea Industrial Production SA (MoM) Jan: -1.8% (exp -1.0% prev rev 0.5%)
- South Korea Nikkei Manufacturing PMI (Feb): 48.7 (prev 49.5)
- New Zealand QV House Prices (YoY) Feb: 11.6% (prev 12.6%)
- PBoC Fixes Yuan At 6.5490 (prev 6.5385)
- Asian stocks soar to two-month highs on solid data; oil up – RTRS
- Moody's cuts China outlook to 'negative' – cites reform, fiscal risks – RTRS
Markets Update:
The Australian Dollar rallied overnight, following stronger than expected Australia GDP numbers. AUD/USD rose from 0.7160 to a high of 0.7236 and AUD/NZD climbed from 1.08 to 1.0926. In AUD/USD, resistance is now noted at 0.73 and then 0.7380, while intraday support can be expected at 0.7160 and 0.7110.
The New Zealand Dollar failed to follow the AUD higher, partly due to the AUD/NZD flows. NZD/USD started the day around 0.6640 and is trading around 0.6620 as we are heading into the EU open. Support is seen at 0.6570, while key resistance now lies at 0.6660.
USD/JPY was quiet despite the gains in the Asian stock markets. The pair rose from 113.75 to 114.15, but gave up some of its gains later and fell to 113.85. Meanwhile, EUR/USD consolidated in a 1.0854-81 range, while GBP/USD traded 1.3942-65.
USD/CAD remains under pressure amid the rally in oil prices, but overnight the pair found some support as WTI retraced slightly. It rose from 1.3400 at the Sydney open to a high of 1.3430.
Upcoming Events:
- 06:45 GMT – Swiss GDP
- 09:30 GMT – UK Construction PMI
- 10:00 GMT – Euro Zone PPI
- 13:15 GMT – US ADP Nonfarm Employment Change
- 14:00 GMT – BoE MPC Member Cunliffe speaks
- 15:30 GMT – US Crude Oil Inventories
