News & Research

14 February 2017

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Currency Markets the dollar extended losses on Tuesday after President Donald Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn quit, with investors waiting to see whether Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen offers clues to the likely pace interest rate increases in her congressional testimony. The dollar weakened 0.3 percent on the day to stand at 113.43 yen, off Monday's high of 114.17 but well above a 10-week low of 111.59 yen touched a week ago. The euro, which has come under pressure in recent sessions as France's election campaign has heated up, was up 0.1 percent at $1.0611. The dollar index was down 0.1 percent on the day at 100.84, edging away from Monday's high of 101.11, its highest level since Jan. 20.

Commodities Markets oil rose on Tuesday, supported by an OPEC-led effort to cut output, but rising production elsewhere kept prices within the narrow range that has contained them so far this year. Brent crude futures were trading at $55.76 per barrel, up 17 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 14 cents at $53.07 per barrel. Spot gold was mostly unchanged at $1,225.84 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures inched up 0.1 percent to $1,226.8. Spot silver rose 0.22 percent to $17.83 per ounce. The metal hit its highest since Nov.11 at $18 in the previous session. Platinum was flat at $994.75 per ounce. Palladium inched down 0.23 percent to $772.68 per ounce.

US Equity Markets the  equity indexes hit record highs on Monday, with the benchmark S&P 500's market value topping $20 trillion as investors bet tax cuts promised by President Donald Trump would boost the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.7 percent at 20,412.16 points. The S&P 500  gained 0.52 percent to 2,328.25 points and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.52 percent at 5,763.96. Apple  rose 0.9 percent. Goldman Sachs increased its target price for Apple's shares on expectations of strong iPhone sales this year. Verizon Communications fell 0.9 percent after the telecom carrier said it was bringing back an unlimited data plan, sparking fears of a price war. AT&T fell 1.8 percent, T-Mobile lost 2.4 percent and Sprint  fell 1.3 percent.

Bond Markets shorter-dated Japanese government bond prices edged higher on Tuesday as firm results at a five-year debt auction lifted sentiment, although longer-dated maturities sagged and steepened the overall yield curve. The two-year yield fell 1 basis point to minus 0.225 percent and the five-year yield fell half a basis point to minus 0.090 percent. The benchmark 10-year yield rose 0.5 basis point to 0.090 percent and the 30-year yield climbed 3.5 basis points to 0.895 percent.

Asian Equity Markets Japanese stocks fell on Tuesday afternoon, with Toshiba Corp's diving after it delayed its earnings release, including details of a multibillion dollar charge related to cost overruns at its U.S. nuclear arm. The Nikkei index was down 0.5 percent at 19,367.96 in early afternoon trade. The broader Topix lost 0.4 percent to 1,548.00 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 fell 0.5 percent to 13,882.68. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan edged up 0.2 percent, trying for its fifth straight session of gains. Mainland Chinese stocks showed the Shanghai composite down 0.14 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 0.2 percent.