Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 0.80%, Shanghai Composite up 0.37% Hang Seng up 0.88% ASX up 0.07%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,850.90 (0.02%) Silver at $80.170 (0.80%), Brent Oil at $95.13 (0.35%), WTI Oil at $90.95 (-0.33%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.243, UK 10-year yield at 4.7840, Germany 10-year yield at 3.0297
News & Data:
- (USD) Core PPI m/m 0.1% to 0.4% expected
- (USD) PPI m/m 0.5% to 1.1% expected
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher Wednesday, following overnight gains on Wall Street, as easing oil prices and renewed expectations of diplomatic progress between Washington and Tehran improved investor sentiment across the region. A White House official told CNBC that a second round of negotiations with Iran was being considered, although no formal schedule has yet been confirmed. President Donald Trump said the other side had reached out and appeared eager to secure an agreement.
Oil prices declined amid these developments, with West Texas Intermediate slipping 0.65% to $90.68 per barrel and Brent crude falling 0.34% to $94.47 per barrel. In regional trading, South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.95% and the Kosdaq gained 1.98%, supported by a 20% surge in Samsung SDS shares after KKR agreed to purchase $820 million in convertible bonds.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.67%, while the Topix added 0.49%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.10%. Mainland China’s CSI 300 advanced 0.62% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 0.95%, as China’s finance ministry announced plans to issue 15.5 billion yuan in treasury bonds in Hong Kong on April 22.
Meanwhile, U.S. futures traded slightly lower after strong overnight gains pushed the S&P 500 closer to its record high. Investors remained cautious, however, as uncertainty around negotiations and energy markets continued to influence global risk appetite and near-term trading direction today.
Upcoming Events:
- 12:30 PM GMT – CAD Manufacturing Sales m/m
- 12:30 PM GMT – CAD Wholesale Sales m/m
