21 February 2017

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Currency Markets the dollar gained on Tuesday, taking its cue from higher U.S. Treasury yields as investors awaited minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting for signals to the pace of interest rate hikes. The dollar rose 0.5 percent to 113.64 yen, moving back toward its two-week peak of 114.955 yen touched last Wednesday. The euro was down 0.3 percent at $1.0580, after moving little on Monday. Against the yen, the euro traded at 120.26, up 0.2 percent as it got a crosstrading lift from the yen's descent against the dollar. The Australian dollar fell 0.3 percent to $0.7666 , moving away from last week's three-month high of $0.7732 but underpinned by firm commodity prices.

Commodities Markets crude futures rose for a second day on Tuesday, with data showing hedge funds are betting big across oil markets following OPEC production cuts agreed last year. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 0.6 percent, at $53.71 a barrel, after rising about 0.5 percent in a shortened session on Monday due to a U.S. national holiday. Brent futures gained 0.1 percent, to $56.24 a barrel, after ending the previous session up 0.7 percent. Spot gold fell 0.5 percent to $1,232.31 per ounce. Spot silver fell 0.5 percent, to $17.92 per ounce, while platinum prices was down by 0.6 percent, to $995 per ounce. Palladium fell 0.5 percent, to $768.18 per ounce.

U.S., Equity Markets were closed for the Presidents Day holiday.

Bond Markets  French government bonds yields steadied on Monday, as investor concern about a tie-up between the two main left candidates in France's presidential election - potentially opening the door to a far-right victory - eased.  France's 10-year bond yield fell 0.5 basis points to 1.04 percent, squeezing the gap over German peers to around 73 bps from around 75 bps on Friday. Germany's benchmark 10-year bond yield rose 1 bps to 0.32 percent, while other euro zone bond yields were mostly little changed.

Asian Equity Markets Japanese stocks edged up on Tuesday morning as the yen eased back against the dollar, although trading volumes were low as a holiday in the United States left investors short of the usual leads. The Nikkei added 0.5 percent to 19,346.00, on track for a second straight session of gains. The broader Topix rose 0.4 percent to 1,552.80 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 also climbed 0.4 percent, to 13,932.45. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan was up 0.2 percent on Tuesday and held below a 19-month peak hit last Thursday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 0.21 percent, while the Shanghai composite edged up 0.16 percent. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.11 percent.