ASIAN STOCKS, TALKING POINTS:
- Asian stocks posted modest gains, in the main
- US/China trade talks took a much less belligerent tone
- The Euro remains troubled by Italian political developments
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Asian stocks were broadly higher Monday -if not by much- as investors looked with hope to the US/China trade position. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said over the weekend that the two global titans were putting the trade war “on hold,’ as they worked towards an agreement.
Both countries said they had agreed on the need to substantially reduce the US trade gap with China, although it remains unclear as to exactly how they intend to achieve this.
The Nikkei 25 was up 0.4% in the middle of the Tokyo afternoon, with all local stock bourses higher with the exception of Australia’s ASX 200. It was flat as its own close loomed.
The US Dollar gained on the Japanese Yen as risk appetite revived to some extent in the currency markets- also boosting the Australian Dollar and its New Zealand counterpart. AUD/USD has broken out of its trading range to the upside, for a change, but remains mired in a broad range.
The Euro was under severe pressure as investors looked to the confirmation of a euro-skeptic Italian government later Monday.
Japanese trade data passed the Yen by. Imports and exports both rose in April, but by less than expected.
Gold prices slipped as risk appetite revived, with oil prices higher too as the markets wondered whether the aversion of a deeper trade conflict would support overall demand.
The rest of the session promises unusually few new cues with scheduled economic data scant. This is likely to leave old themes in play and the Euro in some trouble.
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--- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research
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