Asia
Markets in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Tuesday after public holidays in Japan and China on Monday. Hong Kong markets were closed but the Shanghai Composite Index dropped around 0.6% on Friday’s close to around 2,780 points.
Japan’s Nikkei, also re-opening after a public holiday, nudged higher and closed within touching distance of 24,000 points, a level last breached in February 2018 – the low this year for the index was 20,617 points. The gains have been stimulated in a break higher for the US dollar against the Japanese yen this week: having been at around 111 yen at the start of the month, the dollar is now trading near 113 yen.
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda reminded traders that the country’s ultra-loose monetary policy is not a permanent feature of the landscape, and that interest rates could rise to combat inflation. While inflation is picking up in Japan, it is still a way away from the 2% target. Currency traders did not interpret these comments as hawkish for the yen, however.
Europe
Retailer Next (NXT) led the FTSE 100 risers this morning, with shares gaining 8% after the company raised its full-year profit guidance. Profits rose in the last six months, with clothing sales boosted by the warmer summer weather. The company also touched on Brexit as it warned of the dangers of border delays posing a threat to businesses.
Eurozone exchanges were broadly positive approaching midday but gains were modest.
North America
Nike (NKE) reports earnings today after the market closes.
US consumer confidence figures for September are released today, and the forecast is for a dip on August’s reading. The index is released after the stock market opens on Tuesday.
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by a quarter point on Wednesday, the third hike this year. After this week’s meeting, there are only two more meetings in 2018, in November and December. Fed chair Jerome Powell speaks before the Senate on the US economy later on Thursday.
Thursday sees a raft of data releases, including the third reading of Q2 GDP, durable goods orders, the advance goods trade balance, as well as weekly jobless claims.
Canada’s GDP will be in focus on Friday with July figures in view. The Canadian economy is expected to have risen by 2.2% in July from the same month in 2017, a drop from the 2.4% gain in June.