31.01.24 Macro Morning

 | Jan 31, 2024 10:12

Overnight risk markets were again contained due to some further strong US economic data which saw bond markets selloff while the USD remained sanguine. Wall Street took back its start of week gains and while European markets had solid sessions, futures are indicating a gap lower for most Asian markets today. The Australian dollar remains just over the 66 cent level – but only just.

10 year Treasury yields lifted back above the 4.1% level with chances of a March rate cut firming while oil prices consolidated with Brent crude staying above the $82USD per barrel level. Meanwhile gold had a volatile session but eventually closed above the $2030USD per ounce level.

Looking at share markets in Asia from yesterday’s session where mainland Chinese share markets fell sharply in afternoon trade as the Shanghai Composite lost nearly 2% to 2851 points while in Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index also had another selloff, losing more than 2.3% to 15703 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: