Forex Marketz Daily Forex News – Fully Markets Update
The regional Asian equity and financial markets were trading higher by lunchtime, Hong Kong time, during a quiet holiday trade session on Thursday. The financial markets in Australia and Hong Kong remain closed for the holiday.
Major benchmarks across the Asian and Pacific Rim were closed on Wednesday for the Christmas holiday. These benchmarks included those located in Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia.
The Asian benchmark, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 was trading up 0.4 percent. The broader Topix index, in Tokyo, was trading up 0.31 percent.
Shares of Familymart, on the Nikkei index, were trading up about 0.9 percent by the afternoon hours.
In South Korea, the headline Kospi composite index reopened after the Christmas day holiday. Shares on the South Korean bourse were most flat as they oscillated in and out of negative territory.
The MSCI Asian index, which does not include shares of Japanese companies, was trading mostly flat.
On the mainland, in China, shares on their headline exchanges were trading mostly higher on Thursday. Shares on the Shanghai composite added 0.3 percent. The smaller Shenzhen composite rose 0.33 percent. The Shenzhen component added 0.42 percent.
Asian Trade Volume Remains Thin as many Participants Remain on Holiday
The economic calendar is extremely thin today with only a couple of small events scheduled. Traders are still waiting on more information regarding the preliminary trade agreement between China and the United States. Both nations hope to sign this “phase one” trade accord by February.
The equity and financial markets in Europe and North America will open today but volume is expected to be light.
On Tuesday, during a holiday shortened session the Nasdaq composite set a new record high at 8,952.88. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 36.08 points and the S&P 500 was mostly flat.
