Central Banks

Asian equities are mixed after U.S. indices closed at record high and as investors awaits central banks decision on asset purchase and rates decision. More than 80% of U.S. equites crossed street’s earnings estimates, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 overnight hit record high. Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 36,000 for the first time in almost 96 years after the book Dow 36,000 book was released in 1999. However, bottlenecked supply chain crunch since 1973’s oil crisis extends pressure on U.S. manufacturers with Institute of Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI), released on Monday read 60.8 and Markit Manufacturing PMI is at 58.4 lower than expected. In the Asian region, Hang Seng index touched almost 2% while CSI300 down by 0.43%. KOSPI rose 1.51% while Nikkei parted Monday’s gain slipping by 0.22% and SET down by 0.16%. Asian traders are closely anticipating to the release of key policy rate decision by Australian central bank. Ahead of Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday, the U.S. 10-year yield and the dollar is at steady level. Oil shrugged off Chinese reserve release and inched up overnight with WTI up by 0.18% and Brent 0.24%.