Nikada
Japan -2.04%. Investors digested data, showing core consumer price index for the Ku-area of Tokyo in Japan rose 2.8% year-on-year in August 2023, slowing from a 3% gain in July and coming in below forecasts of 2.9%.
Japan data – July PPI Services (Corporate Services Price Index) +1.7% y/y (expected 1.3%).
China -0.28%.
Hong Kong -0.79%.
India -0.37%.
Australia -0.87%.
Singapore’s manufacturing production shrank 0.9% year-on-year in July 2023, after an upwardly revised 6.6% fall in the previous month.
Malaysia’s leading economic index dropped 0.5% mom in June 2023, shifting from a downwardly revised 1.7% rise in the previous month.
The annual inflation rate in Malaysia eased to 2% in July 2023, down from 2.4% in the previous month and was almost in line with market forecasts of 2.1%.
Thailand’s trade deficit decreased to USD 1.98 billion in July 2023 from USD 3.66 billion in the same month a year before. Exports were down 6.2% y/y, meanwhile, imports plunged 11.1%.
In the U.S. on Thursday, all three major indexes ended lower amid a pause in Nvidia-led rally and as investors cautiously awaited the Fed Chair Powell’s speech later today at the annual central bank gathering in Jackson Hole. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slipped 1.87% to close at 13,463.97 points. The benchmark S&P 500 retreated 1.35% to settle at 4,376.20 points, while the blue-chip Dow lost ground by 1.08% to finish at 34,099.91 points.
Investors prepare for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech for clues on the path for US monetary policy.
Oil prices fell slightly in early Asian trade on Friday for weekly fall on demand worries, dollar strength.
Brent crude fell 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $83.20 a barrel by 0013 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 18 cents, or 0.2%, to $78.91 a barrel.
Gold prices edged lower on Friday as U.S. dollar jumps, spotlight on Powell’s speech.
Spot gold eased 0.2% to $1,913.90 per ounce by 0323 GMT, while U.S. gold futures shed 0.3% to $1,942.
Among other metals, spot silver edged 0.4% lower to $24.04 per ounce and platinum was steady at $933.68. Palladium fell 0.3% to $1,236.69.
Currencies: (JPY:USD), (CNY:USD), (AUD:USD), (INR:USD), (HKD:USD), (NZD:USD).
U.S. stock futures were little changed on Friday : Dow +0.19%; S&P 500 +0.08%; Nasdaq -0.07%.
