Open May 23

​In Asian Equity Markets indices fell in Thursday morning trade as investors worried about the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China. The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell 0.54% in early trade. Shares of index heavyweight and conglomerate Softbank Group declined more than 3.5% after sources told Reuters that U.S. Justice Department staff have recommended blocking a deal between T-Mobile and rival Sprint. In South Korea, the Kospi fell 0.31%, while Australia’s ASX 200 declined 0.19%.



In Currency Markets the yen advanced against its peers on Thursday as persistent U.S.-China trade fears and Brexit concerns fanned risk aversion, lifting the safe-haven Japanese currency. The yen was 0.1% firmer at 110.240 to the dollar, having pulled back from a two-week low of 110.675 plumbed on Tuesday. The Japanese currency also rose modestly against the euro, pound and Australian dollar, adding to overnight gains. A deepening Brexit crisis also sapped investor risk sentiment. The pound was little changed at $1.2663 after slipping to $1.2625 overnight, its lowest since Jan. 4.



In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Thursday, extending falls from the previous session amid surging U.S. crude inventories and weak demand from refineries. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $70.62 per barrel, down 37 cents, or 0.5 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down by 31 cents, or 0.5 percent, at $61.11 per barrel. Crude futures already fell by around 2 percent the previous day.



In US Equity Markets indices fell on Wednesday as inflamed trade tensions between the United States and China weighed on investor sentiment. The S&P 500 lost 0.28%, to 2,856.27 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.45%, to 7,750.84. A federal judge ruled that Qualcomm illegally suppressed competition in the market for smartphone chips by threatening to cut off supplies and extracting excessive licensing fees. The chipmaker’s shares fell 10.9%. Lowe’s shares dived 11.8% after the home improvement chain cut its full-year profit forecast.



In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell on Wednesday, pressured by worsening trade tensions between the United States and China after a media report said the Trump government is considering limits to Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision's ability to buy American technology. U.S. 10-year note yields fell to 2.39% from 2.426% late on Tuesday. Yields on U.S. 30-year bonds slid to 2.815% from 2.842% on Tuesday. On the short end of the curve, U.S. 2-year yields were down at 2.228% from Tuesday's 2.258%.