ECONOMY
On Monday , Asian Indices moderately upside as investors cheered a much-needed rebound in U.S. payrolls, while looking forward to more policy stimulus in China. In a document published on the central government’s website late on Sunday, Beijing said it would step up its policy of targeted cuts to banks’ required reserve ratios to encourage financing for small and medium-sized businesses.
On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 closed higher for its seventh trading day in a row last week, the longest winning streak since October 2017. However, a test looms as major U.S. banks kick off what analysts expect to be the first quarter of contracting corporate earnings since 2016.
Minutes of the Federal Reserve’s last policy meeting are due out on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Theresa May must come up with a new plan to secure a delay from EU leaders at a summit on Wednesday.
On Friday, There was a huge sigh of relief globally when the U.S. payrolls report showed a solid 196,000 rise in jobs in March, while annual wage growth slowed a little to 3.2 percent.
Pakistan, warning of a possible new attack by giant neighbour India, said on Sunday it had summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner to protest against any "misadventure".
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra became the latest member of India's storied Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to enter politics in January, but the boost she brings the opposition campaign may not turn the tide against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, polls show.
CURRENCY
On Monday , Emerging market FX-S.Korean won, Indonesian rupiah lead declines.
Early Asia Greenback was steady at 97.377 against a basket of currencies but remained short of the March peak at 97.710 which marks major chart resistance.
The dollar held its recent gain on the Japanese yen at 111.68, but again needs to clear the March top of 112.12 to spark a true uptrend.
The euro has been undermined by a string of dismal data out of Europe and idled at $1.1221 not far from its recent 20-month trough at $1.1174.
Sterling had troubles of its own at $1.3048 as time ticks away to Britain’s departure from the European Union on April 12, with no deal agreed.
COMMODITY
Spot gold was a fraction firmer at $1,292.09 per ounce.
Oil prices held firm as the upbeat U.S. jobs data tempered fears about weakening global crude oil demand, and on expectations that an escalating conflict in Libya could tighten oil supplies. U.S. crude was last up 34 cents at $63.42 a barrel, while Brent crude futures rose 31 cents to $70.65.
Malaysian palm oil futures surged to their highest in six weeks on Friday evening, charting a fifth straight session of gains, on expectations of dwindling stockpiles and improved exports.
U.S. soybean futures dropped on Friday as uncertainty about the timing and details of a potential trade deal with China caused investors to lock in some profits from recent gains.
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