Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 0.18%, Shanghai Composite up 0.31%, Hang Seng up 0.30% ASX down 0.32%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,538.80 (-0.31%), Silver at $79.660 (3.20%), Brent Oil at $60.83 (0.96%), WTI Oil at $57.31 (1.00%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.135, UK 10-year yield at 4.5080, Germany 10-year yield at 2.8624
News & Data:
- (JPY) Unemployment Rate 2.6% to 2.6% expected
Markets Update:
Asian markets began the week on a mixed note Monday, with activity remaining relatively subdued as global markets move into the final trading days of the year. With limited fresh economic or corporate cues, sentiment across the region stayed cautious. Following last week’s Christmas and Boxing Day holidays, several markets are also set for shortened sessions midweek, and many will close again on Thursday for the New Year break, adding to thin volumes.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slipped 16.30 points, or 0.19%, to 8,746.40, while the broader All Ordinaries dipped 18.10 points, or 0.2%, to 9,050.90. Mining counters helped limit broader declines, though healthcare and banking stocks weighed. James Hardie Industries, CSL, Alcoa, Capstone Copper, Evolution Mining, South32, BHP Group, Block, AEA Group, and ANZ recorded moderate to strong gains. On the downside, Santos, Sigma Healthcare, Goodman Group, SGH, News Corp., Northern Star Resources, Newmont, QBE Insurance, Westpac, and Brambles eased between 0.3% and 1%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 also traded weaker, shedding 200.22 points, or 0.39%, to 50,550.17 by the morning break. Losses from Trend Micro, Sumitomo Dainippon, DIC Corp., Advantest, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Daikin Industries dragged the index lower, while Itochu Corp. rallied nearly 4.5%. Gains were also seen in Fujikura, Sumitomo Metal Mining, Mitsubishi Materials, and Hino Motors.
China’s Shanghai Composite added 15.13 points, or 0.37%, to 3,978.81, supported by strength in financial and energy heavyweights. Elsewhere, South Korea’s KOSPI rose sharply, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged higher, while Malaysia and New Zealand softened and Singapore traded mildly positive.
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