Asian shares edged up on Tuesday lifted by gains in China and as auto firms climbed on merger news, but broad uncertainties over trade and economic growth kept a lid on gains.
Asian Shares
- MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.31%.
- U.S. S&P 500 e-mini futures rose 0.19% to 2,837.25.
- Chinese blue-chips rose 1.02%.
- Seoul’s KOSPI added 0.13%.
- Australian shares were up 0.45%.
- Japan’s Nikkei stock index gained 0.39%.
Currency
- The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, was 0.20% higher at 97.806.
- The dollar was barely weaker against the yen at 109.47, and fell 0.13% against the euro, with the common currency buying $1.1181.
Commodities
- In commodity markets, oil prices wavered after rising more than 1% on Monday on tensions in the Middle East and OPEC-led supply cuts, as well as continuing Russian supply disruptions after a contamination problem discovered last month.
- Brent crude was 0.1% lower at $70.04 per barrel, having earlier dipped below the $70 mark, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude added 0.82% to $59.11 per barrel.
- Spot gold was down 0.12% at $1,283.21 per ounce.
Bonds
- On Tuesday, U.S. yields were also lower. Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes yielded 2.3061%.
- The two-year yield touched 2.1661%.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin, which on Monday touched $8,939.18, its highest in more than a year, was up 0.3% at $8,797.4, turning around from an earlier drop. The cryptocurrency topped $8,000 for the first time since July 2018 on May 13.