Foreign exchange markets got off to a slow start Monday, with trading set to remain subdued due to a sparse data calendar in Europe and public holidays in North America.
Nikkei 225 and Hang Seng indices both rose over 1.5% while other Chinese stocks gained even more.
Commodity prices, have also rose, with crude oil touch its highest level since November.
Chinese trade talks with US are due to continue this week in Washington DC.
The dollar index was at 96.71, down nearly 0.5% from the new high for 2019 that it hit last week. It was supported by the buck rising against the yen, as the world’s cheapest funding currency suffered most from the return of animal spirits. The USD/JPY pair rose to 110.61.
The euro was back above $1.13, up nearly half a cent from the low it hit on Friday.
The British pound was weaker against the dollar but was holding up against the euro after the EU’s securities regulator ESMA said it would issue temporary licenses to U.K.-based clearing houses in the event of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.
That means EU-based clients would still be able to clear trades through London in the short term, reducing the risk of financial volatility. GBP/USD was at $1.2902.
