EQUITIES

On Tuesday, major benchmark closes as follow:

S&P 500 Index                                 : $2,584.59, down -42.06 points or -1.60%

Dow Jones Industrial Average     : $21,917.16, down -410.32 points or -1.84%

Nasdaq Composite Index              : $7,700.10, down -74.05 points or -0.95%

On the contrary, European exchanges are recording gain, with London's FTSE 100 up 1.95%, Germany's DAX 1.22% and France's CAC 40 gains 0.40%. Italy's closed 1.06% higher and pan-European Stoxx 600 index gains 1.65% closed Tuesday.

In Asian markets, early trading is showing promises except for Japan's Nikkei 225, that recording loss at -1.24%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained more than 2%, South Korea's KOSPI gains 0.40%, China's Shanghai Composite was up around 0.11% and SENSEX up 3.62% in early trading.

OIL

Brent crude futures ended the session lower on Tuesday at $22.74 per barrel, down -0.09% while WTI crude futures for May delivery rose 1.94%, to $20.48 per barrel.

Currently, Brent crude is trading at $26.17 per barrel while U.S. benchmark WTI crude trading at $20.61 per barrel, as of writing time (UTC+08.00).

CURRENCIES

The dollar fell against a basket of major currencies on Tuesday modestly pressured by the weight of Federal Reserve measures meant to ensure there was enough liquidity in the global financial system, DXY closed at 98.95 and stand at 99.05 latest.

Meanwhile, the dollar traded higher against other major currencies in early trade. Dollar rose against SEK (0.27%), NZD (0.27%), CAD (0.23%), AUD (0.17%), GBP (0.16%), DKK (0.10%), CHF (0.09%), EUR (0.06%), and SGD (0.04%).

U.S. dollar also drops against some other currencies, including RUB (-0.14%), NOK (-0.02%), JPY (-0.04%), and MXN (-0.03%) at the latest reading.

GOLD

Gold currently trading at $1,581.80 per ounce, while stands around $1,594.50 per ounce for gold futures of writing time. Previously closed at 1,577.1 and 1,596.6 respectively.

Silver trading at $13.99, platinum trading at $722.00 and palladium trading at $2,280.00.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

IMF said that some countries' banking systems might have to be recapitalised or even restructured if their economies are severely damaged by prolonged disruption from the coronavirus outbreak, as the pressure on the banking system is growing and higher defaults on debt are imminent. 81 nations now seeking support from an IMF emergency financing program used to provide aid.

World's biggest glove maker has its hands full. Top Glove, which makes one in five of the world's rubber gloves, says it is overwhelmed by orders amid the coronavirus crisis. The company reported a 9.3% annual jump in its fiscal second quarter net profit helped by higher sales volume. Shares of the Malaysia’s rubber company have rallied more than 40% as the COVID-19 coronavirus spread across the world.

To date, number of confirmed worldwide cases for COVID-19 pandemic has now reached more than 860,000 today affecting 202 countries and territories around the world, recording more than 42,000 fatality globally. 

TECHNICAL OUTLOOK

[AUDUSD]

When a bullish trend in price is accompanied by a bearish trend in some other indicators - a “bearish divergence” - it implies the uptrend has lost momentum and could reverse course at any time, thus the price will be expected to show downtrend soon.


1.4.2020