Open June 28

In Asian Equity Markets indices fell in Friday morning trade. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.5% in morning trade, with shares of index heavyweight and robot maker Fanuc declining more than 1%. The Topix index also shed 0.37%. Mainland Chinese stocks fell in early trade, with the Shanghai composite lower by 0.66% and the Shenzhen component falling 0.81%. The Shenzhen composite also shed 0.613%. Over in South Korea, the Kospi was 0.31% lower, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.28%.


In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar trod water early on Friday as investors awaited a crucial meeting between the leaders of the United States and China at a Group of 20 summit over the weekend for any signs of progress to end their heated trade war. The dollar traded at 107.73 yen, little changed on the day but on course for a 0.4% gain this week as the greenback mounted a recovery from a five-month low of 106.77 yen reached on Tuesday. The euro last traded at $1.1370, unchanged on the week.


In Commodities Markets oil prices were steady on Friday, with focus shifting to the G20 summit where a scheduled meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has stirred hopes that trade tensions could ease. Brent crude futures were up 5 cents, or 0.08%, at $66.60 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 2 cents, or 0.03%, at $59.41 a barrel. The leaders of the G20 countries meet on Friday and Saturday in Osaka, Japan, but the most anticipated meeting is between Trump and Xi on Saturday.


In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed higher in a broad-based rally on Thursday as investors looked to the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan this weekend for progress in the long-running U.S.-China trade dispute, which has whipsawed markets for months. The S&P 500 rose 0.38%, to 2,924.92 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.73%, to close at 7,967.76. Conagra Brands reported quarterly earnings that missed analyst estimates because of waning demand and manufacturing challenges. Its shares fell 12.1%.


In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell on Thursday on concerns that trade discussions between the United States and China on Saturday may be more complicated than previously expected, boosting demand for safe-haven debt. The Treasury Department sold $32 billion in seven-year notes on Thursday to solid demand, the final sale of $113 billion in coupon-bearing supply this week. The government sold $41 billion in five-year notes on Wednesday to slightly soft demand while a $40 billion two-year note sale on Tuesday was firm.