05.02.24 Macro Morning

 | Feb 05, 2024 11:07

Market expectations are elevated to say the least with a super strong US jobs report on Friday night followed by strikes in the Middle East, with Wall Street hitting a new record high due to very impressive earnings in the tech sector. European shares were mildly positive, but all the action was again in currency and bond markets as King Dollar took its throne again, smashing all the undollars except gold. The Australian dollar was eventually pushed down to the 65 cent level.

Bond yields all zoomed higher with 10 year Treasury yields bursting nearly 20 pips up through the 4.1% level while oil prices fell back sharply as Brent crude fell through to the $77USD per barrel level. Meanwhile gold had a relatively smooth session, able to hold on just below the $2040USD per ounce level.

Looking at share markets in Asia from Friday’s session where mainland Chinese share markets fell sharply again in afternoon trade as the Shanghai Composite moved nearly 1.4% lower to 2730 points while in Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index was dead flat, closing 0.2% lower at 15533 points.

The daily chart still shows the significant downtrend from the start of 2023 with the 19000 point support level a distant memory as medium term price action remains stuck below the 17000 point zone. The recent bounce which saw daily momentum readings almost reach positive settings is just another part of this down phase with a rollover imminent as the inability to reach former support at the 16000 point level is telling: