Asian share markets remain in a somewhat positive mood today although Chinese stocks remain closed while Japanese bourses fell as Yen volatility continues to weigh. Local stocks continue to float slightly higher despite the equally rising Australian dollar which is now pushing well above the 67 cent level to exceed its previous weekly high.
Oil futures are lifting slightly higher after rolling over following the weekend gap as Brent crude pushes above the $72USD per barrel level while gold is steadying here as it eyes the $2600USD per ounce level, looking very positive:
Mainland Chinese share markets are still closed while the Hang Seng Index is up more than 1.3% to close at 17651 points. Japanese stock markets reopened from their long weekend with the Nikkei 225 dropping more than 1% to 36203 points as Yen takes a breather against USD, holding at its new low as the USDPY pair steadies just above the 140 level:
Australian stocks were able to put in some minor gains as the ASX200 closed 0.3% higher to extend above the 8000 point level at 8140 points while the Australian dollar is also pushing higher above the 67 cent level to make a two week high:
S&P and Eurostoxx futures are slowly building going into the London session with the S&P500 four hourly chart showing momentum remaining nicely overbought as resistance at the 5500 point level becomes a distant memory:
The economic calendar ramps up tonight with US retail sales and UK CPI prints.