A broad gauge of Asian shares rose to an 18-month high on Monday as Chinese equities gained, while oil touched three-month highs on a combination of US crude inventory drawdowns, trade optimism and unrest in the Middle East.
Asian Shares
- MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.09 per cent lower.
- Chinese blue chips were 0.15 per cent lower.
- Australian shares shed 0.56 per cent.
- Japan’s Nikkei stock index slid 0.51 per cent.
- The Dow ended 0.08 per cent higher at 28,645.26 and the S&P edged up just 0.11 points to 3,240.02.
- The Nasdaq Composite lost steam at the close, falling 0.17 per cent to 9,006.62.
Currency Markets
- In the currency market, the dollar was 0.07 per cent lower against the yen at 109.33.
- The euro was up 0.17 per cent on the day at US$1.1194.
Bonds
- The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was at 1.8787 per cent in thin trade compared with its U.S. close of 1.873 per cent on Friday,
- The two-year yield edged down to 1.5812 per cent compared with a U.S. close of 1.589 per cent.
Commodities
- Gold also continued its run-up, after posting its best week in more than four months on Friday amid thin trading volumes, in a sign that some investors continue to see risks to global growth and U.S.-China trade.
- Global benchmark Brent crude was up 0.07 per cent to US$68.21 per barrel.
- U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude shaved off 0.05 per cent to US$61.69 per barrel.
