Investors are likely to shrug off political developments over the weekend in what looks like a modestly positive start to the trading week. Shares and commodities steadied on Friday night and currency markets are calm in this morning’s early trading. Futures’ markets point to small opening gains for Asia Pacific indices.
A swing to the far right in the Germany is unlikely to shift power away from PM Merkel’s ruling coalition despite the warning it provides. Similarly a trend towards centre left parties appears insufficient to unseat the ruling party in New Zealand, depending on the politically flexible NZ First party. Both the EUR and NZD are slightly softer in response to the weekend elections. A statement from a North Korean official at the UN on Saturday that a pre-emptive strike on the US was “inevitable” if it were to launch an attack on North Korea has sunk below the markets’ horizon.
After a brief hiatus macro data releases resume this week. Both US and British GDP data will speak to growth after Friday night’s disappointing European PMIs. A Japanese manufacturing PMI read today precedes inflation and jobs numbers on Friday. The RBNZ will make a post-election interest rate decision ahead of a European read on consumer confidence on Thursday. Commodity traders will look for China manufacturing statistics due at the end of the week.
Disclaimer: CMC Markets Singapore may provide or make available research analysis or reports prepared or issued by entities within the CMC Markets group of companies, located and regulated under the laws in a foreign jurisdictions, in accordance with regulation 32C of the Financial Advisers Regulations. Where such information is issued or promulgated to a person who is not an accredited investor, expert investor or institutional investor, CMC Markets Singapore accepts legal responsibility for the contents of the analysis or report, to the extent required by law. Recipients of such information who are resident in Singapore may contact CMC Markets Singapore on 1800 559 6000 for any matters arising from or in connection with the information.
