Nikada
Japan +1.41%. Industrial production in Japan declined by 1.8% month-over-month in July 2023, compared with flash data of a 2.0% fall and after a final 2.4% growth in the previous month.
Japan data – July Machinery Orders -1.1% m/m (expected -0.9%).
China -0.16%.
Hong Kong +0.11%.
India -0.01%. India’s moderating inflation rate to 6.83% in August from July’s 15-month low of 7.44% also lifted sentiment.
Market participants were cautious ahead of India’s wholesale prices later today, with analysts expecting them to continue to decline for the fifth straight month despite being at a softer rate.
Australia +0.46%. Australia August Jobs +64.9K (vs. +25K expected) & Jobless rate 3.7% (vs. 3.7% exp).
Australian Consumer Inflation Expectations for September: 4.6% (vs. prior 4.9%).
Singapore’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was confirmed at 1.9% in Q2 of 2023, slightly up from 1.9% in the previous period which was the lowest figure in 8 years.
In the U.S. on Wednesday, all three major indexes ended mixed. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite closed 0.29% higher at 13,813.59 points. The benchmark S&P 500 added 0.13% to settle at 4,467.48 points, while the blue-chip Dow slipped 0.20% to finish at 34,575.70 points.
Traders were also cautious as the European Central Bank will announce its monetary policy decision later today after stronger-than-expected inflation data in the US. Meantime, Friday will witness a number of Chinese economic data, among others, new home prices, retail sales, and industrial output.
Oil prices edged higher on Thursday as markets zoom in on supply tightness. International benchmark Brent futures climbed 17 cents to $92.05 a barrel at 12:02 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 19 cents to $88.71.
Currencies: (Japanese Yen / US Dollar (JPY:USD)), (Chinese Yuan / US Dollar (CNY:USD)), (Australian Dollar / US Dollar (AUD:USD)), (Indian Rupee / US Dollar (INR:USD)), (Hong Kong Dollar / US Dollar (HKD:USD)), (New Zealand Dollar / US Dollar (NZD:USD)).
U.S. stock futures edged higher on Thursday as investors look ahead to the August producer price index report to guide the economic and interest rate outlooks further: Dow +0.17%; S&P 500 +0.25%; Nasdaq +0.41%.
ETFs: (JEQ), (EWJ), (DXJ), (FXY), (FXI), (KWEB), (CQQQ), (MCHI), (ASHR), (YINN), (TDF), (CHIQ), (GXC), (EWH), (KBA), (YANG), (CXSE), (CAF), (CWEB), (PGJ), (KURE), (CHIX), (CYB).