Nikada
Japan (NKY:IND) +2.67%. Japan’s core machinery orders, which exclude those for ships and electric power companies, fell 1.7% month-on-month to 823.8 billion yen in January 2024, reversing from a downwardly revised 1.9% gain in December.
Traders look forward to the Bank of Japan’s policy decision on Tuesday amid speculations that it could exit its negative interest rates due to rising wages, high inflation and a stable economy.
China (SHCOMP) +0.58%. Traders cheered better-than-expected Chinese economic numbers. Data showed that retail sales, industrial production and fixed asset investment increased more than expected in the first two months of the year. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for cities rose to 5.3% in February from 5.2% in January, the highest in seven months.
Hong Kong (HSI) +0.31%.
India (SENSEX) -0.18%.
Australia (AS51) +0.07%.
In the U.S. on Friday, all three major indexes ended in red amid a massive options expiration and a big tech sell-off.
U.S. stock futures held steady on Monday: Dow +0.10%; S&P 500 +0.33%; Nasdaq +0.60%.
Investors cautiously awaited monetary policy decisions from major central banks this week, including the Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, Reserve Bank of Australia and Bank of England.
Moreover, inflation and PMI figures will be released for major economies. Most central banks are expected to hold benchmark rates steady this week, with traders looking for clues on the potential start of rate cuts this year.
Currencies: (JPY:USD), (CNY:USD), (AUD:USD), (INR:USD), (HKD:USD), (NZD:USD).