A healthy start to the final full week of October with promising data aiding markets globally. In Japan we saw better than expected September Exports (6.9% against a forecasted 10.4%) lifted the Nikkei in afternoon trade to close up 0.3% on the day. This was also supported by the October PMI which came in at […]

QUESTION: Marty; You said Syria was the focal point for this ECM wave and the target for the beginning of World War III. I read your piece on Syria and the issue of religion rising from this single spot. I find it extraordinary how you can pick specific places like Ukraine and Syria long before […]

It was all happening in Asia overnight with typhoons, earthquakes and a six year low fix for the on-shore Yuan. The PSX (Philippine index) was lower by 0.8% in late trading as the winds struck whilst Tokyo suffered the quake which many say was the result for the Nikkei weakness and the Yens strength. Hang […]

Asian markets traded better on the heels of last nights presidential debate following the firm US closes with Japan especially strong climbing 1.4%. The Nikkei is now trading at the highest levels since April and the JPY looks to have rejected the attempts to regain the par level. Shanghai and Hang Seng were little changed as most awaited […]

The Nikkei opened on a wobble but after the first couple of hours progressed steadily to close up +0.3% on the day. As JPY found the renewed bid, and even in late trading, the Yen was knocking on the 102 handle as futures trades close to unchanged. Shanghai also found comfort with Q3 GDP reporting […]

All in all, it has been a rather uneventful day all the way from Asia through to the US. With much data on the horizon this week for China both the Shanghai and Hang Seng gaveup ground ahead of any surprises. Both indices finished the day around 0.8% lower, so it was left to the […]

QUESTION: Dear Marty, I am a Muslim follower of your blog. And your blogs are great. I hope that everyone understands that you are not for this side or the other side. You are in the side of the unfolding of time (that’s how I see it – sorry if it is wrong). The problem […]

What appeared to be an uncertain start turned into smiles and hugs all around. The Nikkei opened unchanged and drifted into the red for a short time until the weaker JPY helped exporters and even late in US trading remains above the 104 handle. Shanghai also went from strength to strength and the Yuan continues […]

Asia saw a mixed session with the Nikkei and Hang Seng lower whilst Shanghai rallied. The mood certainly appears heavy the past few days but more through uncertainty than actual news although we did see Chinese exports decline it did not halt the Shanghai’s performance. The impact of China’s data on European markets was evident […]

Another weak session for the Nikkei despite a brief run at the psychological 17k mark just ahead of lunch. However, it wasn’t to be and the sentiment from a weak US session finally penetrated what euphoria there was and eventually saw the Nikkei close around 1% lower on the day. In mainland China the Peoples […]