EQUITIES

Asian share markets opened this week on rather cautionary move, as investors monitor coronavirus situation.

Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.33%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped -0.35%, China's Shanghai Composite gained 0.28% and Singapore’s rose 0.19%. Meanwhile, shares in Australia also traded higher, as the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.38%, and South Korea’s KOSPI gained 0.04% in early trading.

OIL

Currently, in the morning of Asian trading hours, Brent is trading at $42.27, while WTI is trading at $39.58 as of writing time.

Brent crude futures ended last week at $42.19 per barrel, while WTI crude futures at $39.84 per barrel.

CURRENCIES

The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was last at 97.54 after rising from levels below 96.8 last week.

The Japanese yen traded at 106.87 per dollar after seeing levels above 107.4 in the previous week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6856 following its slide from levels above $0.693 last week.

The U.S. dollar touched a three-week high and commodity currencies were stalled on Monday.

GOLD

Gold currently trading at $1,757.70 per ounce, while stands around $1,773.80 per ounce for gold futures as of writing time. Previously closed at $1,743.80 and $1,753.00, respectively.

Silver trading at $17.89, platinum trading at $807.00 and palladium trading at $1,824.00.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Stocks in Asia were little changed in Monday morning trade as the number of coronavirus cases stateside soared again.

China kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged on Monday, with the 1-year loan prime rate left at 3.85%. The 5-year loan prime rate was also kept steady at 4.65%.

To date, number of confirmed worldwide cases for COVID-19 pandemic has passed 9 million mark, reached more than 9.045 million today affecting 213 countries and territories around the world and 2 international conveyances, recording more than 470 thousand fatality globally.

TECHNICAL OUTLOOK

[USDJPY]

Important Levels to Watch for Today:

- Resistance line of 107.982 and 108.610.

- Support line of 106.555 and 105.995.

Commentary/ Reason:

- Stochastic oscillator approaching into overvalued range.

- RSI oscillator steadies within the normal range.

- MACD is trading above its signal line and negative.