Global Markets:
Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 0.33%, Shanghai Composite down 1.95%, Hang Seng down 1.43%, ASX down 0.43%
Commodities : Gold at $1998.85 (-1.00%), Silver at $25.22 (-0.61%), Brent Oil at $81.08 (-0.02%), WTI Oil at $77.36 (-0.01%)
Rates : US 10-year yield at 3.534, UK 10-year yield at 3.770, Germany 10-year yield at 2.447
News & Data:
- (GBP) Flash Services PMI 54.9 vs 52.9 expected
- (GBP) Flash Manufacturing PMI 46.6 vs 48.3 expected
- (EUR) Flash Services PMI 56.6 vs 54.6 expected
- (EUR) Flash Manufacturing PMI 45.5 vs 47.9 expected
- (EUR) German Flash Services PMI 55.7 vs 53.3 expected
- (EUR) German Flash Manufacturing PMI 44 vs 45.6 expected
- (EUR) French Flash Services PMI 56.3 vs 53.6 expected
- (EUR) French Flash Manufacturing PMI 45.5 vs 47.9 expected
- (GBP) Retail Sales m/m -0.90% vs -0.50% expected
- (USD) Existing Home Sales 4.44M vs 4.50M expected
- (USD) Philly Fed Manufacturing Index -31.3 vs -19.1 expected
- (USD) Unemployment Claims 245K vs 240K expected
Markets Update:
Asian markets continued their upward trend on Thursday, April 21st, with most major indices finishing higher for the day. Investor sentiment was lifted by the strong earnings reports from several tech firms, including Samsung Electronics and TSMC. The Nikkei 225 in Japan rose 0.9%, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong climbed 1.2%. The Shanghai Composite in China also posted gains, closing up 0.8%.
In the commodity markets, crude oil prices edged higher as concerns about supply disruptions in key producing regions persisted. Brent crude futures rose 0.4% to $85.60 per barrel, while WTI crude futures climbed 0.3% to $82.15 per barrel.
Meanwhile, gold prices slipped slightly, with spot gold down 0.2% at $1,773.50 per ounce. The US dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, was little changed at 92.30.
Overall, investors remain cautiously optimistic about the economic recovery in the region, with many watching closely for signs of inflation and central bank policy changes.
Upcoming Events:
- 12:30 am GMT – (JPY) Flash Manufacturing PMI
- 06:00 am GMT – (GBP) Retail Sales m/m
- 07:15 am GMT – (EUR) French Flash Manufacturing PMI
- 07:15 am GMT – (EUR) French Flash Services PMI
- 07:30 am GMT – (EUR) German Flash Manufacturing PMI
- 07:30 am GMT – (EUR) German Flash Services PMI
- 08:00 am GMT – (EUR) Flash Manufacturing PMI
- 08:00 am GMT – (EUR) Flash Services PMI
- 08:30 am GMT – (GBP) Flash Manufacturing PMI
- 08:30 am GMT – (GBP) Flash Services PMI
- 12:30 pm GMT – (CAD) Core Retail Sales m/m
- 12:30 pm GMT – (CAD) Retail Sales m/m
- 01:45 pm GMT – (USD) Flash Manufacturing PMI
- 01:45 pm GMT – (USD) Flash Services PMI
- 08:35 pm GMT – (USD) FOMC Member Cook Speaks
