Asian share markets edged higher on Tuesday and Europe looked set to follow as investors awaited a speech by President Donald Trump on U.S. trade policy and on news he will likely delay a decision on whether to slap tariffs on European autos.
Asian Shares
- MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.5%, following a sharp 1.2% pullback on Monday.
- Japan’s Nikkei, which dithered either side of flat most of the day, ended 0.8% higher.
- Shanghai blue chips eased 0.2% after bank lending growth undershot analysts’ estimates.
- E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 rose 0.2%.
- EUROSTOXX 50 futures gained 0.4%.
Currency
- The pound reached 0.8582 per euro, and firmed to $1.2856 having risen 0.6% overnight.
- Against a basket of currencies, the dollar steadied at 98.224.
- The euro edged up to $1.1038 and away from a three-week low of $1.1015.
- The dollar faded to 109.26 yen.
Commodities
- Spot gold suffered a third day of declines, to touch its lowest since early August at $1,447.89 per ounce. It was last trading at $1,450.44.
- U.S. crude gained 28 cents to $57.14 a barrel.
- Brent crude futures added 35 cents to $62.53.
