Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 1.61%, Shanghai Composite up 0.74%, Hang Seng up 0.93% ASX up 0.48%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,583.21 (+1.83%), Silver at $83.552 (+5.32%), Brent Oil at $63.46 (+0.19%), WTI Oil at $59.24 (+0.51%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.183, UK 10-year yield at 4.3770, Germany 10-year yield at 2.8256
News & Data:
- (USD) Unemployment Rate 4.4% to 4.5% expected
- (USD) Non-Farm Employment Change 50K to 66K expected
- (USD) Unemployment Rate 6.8% to 6.7% expected
- (CAD) Employment Change 8.2K to -1.8K expected
Markets Update:
Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher on Monday, tracking broadly positive cues from Wall Street as optimism grows over the outlook for U.S. interest rates. Sentiment was boosted after a report showed U.S. employment rose less than expected in December, reinforcing confidence that the Federal Reserve could begin cutting rates later this year. While the Fed is still widely expected to keep rates unchanged at its January 27–28 meeting, investors view recent data as supportive of a more accommodative stance ahead. Asian markets had also closed mostly higher on Friday.
Positive sentiment was further supported by a report indicating U.S. consumer sentiment improved slightly more than expected in January. According to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, markets are pricing in a 95 percent probability that the Fed will leave rates unchanged at its upcoming meeting.
The Australian share market is notably higher, rebounding from the previous session’s losses. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index has moved above the 8,750 level, with gains across most sectors led by energy and technology stocks, while iron ore miners lagged. Major banks, gold miners and oil stocks are all trading higher, contributing to the market’s strength.
In Asia, South Korea and Taiwan are posting solid gains, while China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are modestly higher. New Zealand is relatively flat, and Japan’s market is closed for the Coming of Age Day holiday.
On Wall Street, U.S. stocks ended Friday firmly higher, with the Dow and S&P 500 closing at fresh record highs. European markets also advanced, while crude oil prices jumped on supply concerns and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Upcoming Events:
- 09:30 AM GMT – USD Sentix Investor Confidence
