Sentiments on Wall Street improved after Microsoft and Alphabet released higher than anticipated earnings, with strong results in cloud services and AI. Both companies gain today in pre-market 5% and 13% respectively
Anticipated by forex market, Bank of Japan decision came in line with expectations and Japanese central bank held rates unchanged at 0.1% level. The bank boosted core CPI median forecast for fiscal 2024 to 2.8% vs 2.4% in January, but Core CPI is expected to reach 1.9% by 2026. Japanese yen weakened after the bank statement and USDJPY reach all-time highs near 156.2 level
Japanese tech-heavy Nikkei gained more than 1.2%, and South-Korean KOSPI risen 1.1%, but the most active index during the Asian session was Hang Seng which gained almost 2%.
Australian ASX tumbled almost -1.5% with bearish pressure spreading among lithium mining companies. Australian import prices fell by -1.8% MoM vs 0.1% exp. and 1.1% previously. Export prices slide -2.1% MoM vs -0.6% exp. and 5.6% previously
Futures on European benchmarks suggest higher stock market opening in Europe. DE40 gains 0.35%, UK100 0.5% and EU50 0.4%
OIL and NATGAS futures gain slightly today, with Brent rising above $88 per barrel and NATGAS traded near $2 per MMBtu
GOLD and Silver are trading 0.17% and 0.55% higher respectively, but US dollar recovered yesterday loses after weaker than expected GDP reading; EURUSD loses slightly today -0.02%
Despite higher results on European and American futures, Bitcoin loses slightly and is now traded near $64.100. EOS, Fantom and Solana are losing from -4% to -2%
Chinese minister Wang Yi met with US State Secretary, Anthony Blinken, in Beijing. Blinken told that both countries' relation stabilized, but there are building negative factors and sliding into conflict with US would be lose-lose situation; stressing out avoiding 'miscalculations'
Yesterday, Janet Yellen signalled that the US would be prepared to use sanctions on Chinese banks. Wang Yi asked US not to interfere with China's internal affairs
China and France established dialogue mechanism for military cooperation between theater commands according to Chinese defense ministry comments