Global Markets:
- Asian stock markets: Nikkei down 0.70 %, ASX 200 lost 0.20 %, Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite closed for holiday
- Commodities: Gold at $1258 (+0.32 %), Silver at $18.32 (+0.60 %), WTI Oil at $50.30 (+0.05 %), Brent Oil at $53.15 (+0.05 %)
- Rates: US 10-year yield at 2.33, UK 10-year yield at 1.06, German 10-year yield at 0.28
News & Data:
- Australian Trade Balance (AUD) Feb: 3.574B (exp 1.800B; prev 1.302B)
- Australian Exports (MoM) Feb: 1.0% (prev -3.0%)
- Australian Imports (MoM) Feb: -5.0% (prev 4.0%)
- Australian ANZ Roy Morgan Weekly Consumer Confidence Index 2-Apr: 111.1 (prev 113.8)
- New Zealand NZIER Business Confidence Q1: 17.0% (prev 28.0%)
- South Korean CPI (YoY) Mar: 2.2% (exp 2.0%; prev 1.9%)
- South Korean CPI (MoM) Mar: 0.0% (exp -0.2%; prev 0.3%)
- Asia stocks skittish as investors seek safe havens before Trump-Xi meeting – RTRS
Markets Update:
There was a risk-off sentiment in Asia with stock markets down on the day, and the Japanese Yen the best performing currency overnight. Traders in Asia are waiting for the upcoming meeting between US President Trump and the Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump has criticized China many times before, accusing them of currency manipulation and ‘stealing US jobs’. Therefore, the market is interested to see how the meeting will go and if it will calm the situation between the two countries.
In FX, the Yen rose against most other currencies. USD/JPY came under pressure again, and could soon test 110.00. A break below would be quite bearish and signal a move towards 108. Other than that, price action in most currency pairs was quiet. Several key markets in Asia were closed for a holiday today, so volumes were lower than usual.
Upcoming Events:
- 09:30 GMT – UK Construction PMI
- 10:00 GMT – Euro Zone Retail Sales
- 10:15 GMT – RBA Governor Lowe speaks
- 13:30 GMT – Canadian Trade Balance
- 14:30 GMT – ECB President Draghi speaks
- 15:00 GMT – US Factory Orders
