Market News

Asian markets were mixed on Monday afternoon as traders combined renewed optimism about a trade deal between the United States and China with data showing that Chinese industrial profits grew for the first time in four months.

This week is likely to see more activity in the market compared to last week, with important central bank input due from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, and a release of non-farm payrolls data scheduled for this week.

In early Friday trade in Asia, the US Dollar Index remained close to a 2-year peak as FX traders await today's release of growth data from the US.

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that the United States must be prepared for the consequences if they continue with their efforts to prevent Iran from selling its oil globally and blocking countries from using the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korea’s economy shrank unexpectedly in the first quarter of 2019, cementing the country’s first quarter of loss since the global financial crisis in 2008.

Disappointing inflation figures from the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics sent the Aussie Dollar lower against its US counterpart, with FX traders now anticipating a rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia.

The Chinese Central bank decided to grant $39.8 billion dollars in medium-term loans to some commercial lenders.

Asian indexes were trading mostly lower on Wednesday even after a strongly positive day on Wall Street left the S&P 500 at a record high close.

Coming back from the Easter break, the British Parliament is set to resume discussions on how to move forward with the postponed Brexit.

U.S. President Donald Trump backed his decision to nominate Herman Cain for the Federal Reserve Board claiming that Cain Himself decided to withdraw his name from consideration.

Oil prices hovered near 6-month highs on Tuesday after it was announced on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump would not be renewing waivers on the Iranian sanctions that he had provided to some of the country’s biggest oil purchasers.

With trading volume in the currency markets expected to be exceedingly light given the holiday related closure of financial markets in much of the world, the US Dollar still managed to firm against its rivals.

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC), an independent analyst, has reported its finding that the new trade deal between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (USMCA) will have a positive effect on the economy and the employment levels.

Oil prices hit fresh 2019 highs on Monday following reports that the United States is set to announce that all waivers for the Iranian sanctions will end, and that all buyers of Iranian oil will have to find new suppliers, or face sanctions themselves.

This week is likely to see a somewhat increased level of activity in the market compared to last week, with central bank input due from the Bank of Japan and the Bank of Canada, plus important U.S. GDP data.