Asia
Markets in the region took their cue from a positive close on Wall Street, where tech index Nasdaq outperformed on Tuesday night. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix indices were among the best-performing Asia-Pacific markets, helped by a weakening in the yen against the dollar.
The region’s investors were also cheered by further signs in improving US-North Korea relations, as it was revealed that CIA director Mike Pompeo had travelled to the country a few weeks ago on a diplomatic mission.
China and Hong Kong exchanges also closed higher, but – as has often happened in recent trading sessions – lagged Japanese counterparts in terms of percentage gains.
Europe
The UK’s currency and stock markets were wrongfooted by a fall in inflation to a year low of 2.5%. The rise in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, was expected to be 2.7%, the same as in February. The news took the edge of recent gains in sterling, and helped push the FTSE 100 up by nearly 1% to 7284 points.
European exchanges were more mixed, with Germany’s Dax slightly down on Tuesday’s close. Eurozone inflation was also weaker than expected for March.
North America
Strong performance from its equity trading arm in Q1 for Goldman Sachs (GS) was not enough for the share price to take part in Tuesday’s higher market moves. Earnings per share beat analyst forecasts at $6.95 and volatile markets in the first months of the year helped boost trading. The bank is also planning further share buybacks, although this did not prop up the share price in Tuesday’s trading, which fell over 1%.
Next up today is Morgan Stanley (MS), before the market opens, and credit card giant American Express (AXP) after the market closes.
Dow futures are suggesting a rise in the index on Wednesday.
Canada’s central bank is expected to hold interest rates today at 1.25% after the market opens in Toronto.
