ECONOMY
On Friday , Asian Indices were flat and U.S. Treasury yields pulled back as investor caution prevailed ahead of the release of first-quarter corporate earnings, although stronger U.S. economic data helped offset some concerns about global growth.
Overnight Wall Street that left major indexes treading water, hemmed in by anxiety ahead of corporate earnings and worries about a global economic slowdown, which capped gains from upbeat U.S. economic data.
Tempering expectations for a sharp slowdown in U.S. growth as data that showed the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits dropped to a 49-1/2-year low last week
On Thursday Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a general election to be held on May 18.
On Thursday , International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said that the six-month delay of Britain’s exit from the European Union avoids the “terrible outcome” of a “no-deal” Brexit, but does nothing to lift uncertainty over the final outcome.
Underscoring ongoing threats to the health of the global economy, IMF Deputy Managing Director Mitsuhiro Furusawa warned that a bigger-than-expected slowdown in China’s economy remains a key risk to global growth.
CURRENCY
On Friday morning, the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes fell to 2.4952% compared with its U.S. close of 2.504% on Thursday, while the two-year yield, touched 2.354% compared with a U.S. close of 2.356%.
The dollar index held firm after strong U.S. labor and inflation data soothed concerns about the world's largest economy.
The euro nudged up 0.1% to $1.1262 after losing 0.2% on Thursday. The single currency has risen about 0.4 percent this week.
The pound was steady at $1.3053 after dipping 0.25% the previous day against the broadly firmer dollar.
The Canadian dollar was more or less steady at C$1.3385 per dollar after shedding 0.5% the previous day as crude oil prices retreated from five-month highs.
The New Zealand dollar, also sensitive to shifts in commodity prices, slipped to $0.6714, its lowest since Jan. 22.
COMMODITY
On Friday, Oil prices were firm, supported by ongoing supply cuts led by producer club OPEC and by U.S. sanctions on petroleum exporters Iran and Venezuela.
U.S. crude ticked up 0.3% at $63.77 a barrel, while Brent crude was up 0.24% at $71 per barrel.
Malaysian palm oil futures edged down to their lowest in more than a week on Thursday evening, weighed down by expectations of rising production.
U.S. soybean and corn futures fell on Thursday on disappointing weekly export sales data and expectations of large South American harvests that should dampen U.S. export prospects
Gold was slightly higher, having fallen more than % on Thursday to break below the key $1,300 level following solid U.S. data. Spot gold was trading at $1,296.30 per ounce.
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