Skip to content

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved.

Asia morning update - data watch

The start of the week for Asia markets marks the bridge between a week of strong gains for global equities and the uncertainties that prowl ahead as US earnings season begins.

Source: Bloomberg

Amid the mixed state expected, regional indices would also have to contend with China’s December trade data in the day.

US CPI hits bulls eye

As told in our week ahead, what could be a real shot at a recovery in sentiment from last week would be tested this week with US earnings, politics and more growth indicators to mar the situation. As far as US indicators have suggested, the S&P 500 index remains stalled ahead of the 2600 barrier, flatlining in Friday’s session in anticipation. The key US inflation reading for December fell in line with expectations where headline CPI slipped below 2.0% to match the 1.9% year-on-year (YoY) consensus just as the core reading remained unchanged from previous. This had provided little impetus for market movements, backing the data-driven Federal Reserve in their suggested patience.

US 500 Cash ($10)

Watch Citibank for bank stocks

The above said, the watch will be on for the first of bank earnings from Citibank before the market open on Monday in the US. Being the first of the largest banks in the US to release their Q4 performance, Citibank’s results would likely be taken as a bellwether for its counterparts and find the impact trickling across share prices. Not only so, this is expected to cut across to Asia markets where banking stocks take up the lion’s share for the likes of the local Straits Times Index in Singapore. As the final dose of the fiscal policy boost exhaust in year-on-year comparison in Q4, the forward guidance would play equal parts alongside the match up to expectation for the results in implicating prices, one to watch. Once again, to capture the moves in the US, the financial sector ETF (XLF ETF) would be one to track.

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

Mixed open for Asia

Asia markets are expected to commence the session mixed this morning with the uninspiring leads from the US coupled with the wait for the Chinese trade data underscoring. While Japan is away on Monday, the ASX 200 had reflected moderate upsides at the open. That said, the rest of Asia could see a poorer start. Following disappointing official and private manufacturing PMI releases for December, the risk is to the downside for the trade data from China this morning, which could once again invoke growth concerns. A materialization of which would nevertheless only cap the upsides for the headway made across the likes of the HSI and the STI as the wait continues for US earnings.


Friday: S&P 500 -0.01%; DJIA -0.02%; DAX -0.31%; FTSE -0.36%

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Australia Pty Ltd. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.

See an opportunity to trade?

Go long or short on more than 17,000 markets with IG.

Trade CFDs on our award-winning platform, with low spreads on indices, shares, commodities and more.

Live prices on most popular markets

  • Forex
  • Shares
  • Indices

You might be interested in…

Find out what charges your trades could incur with our transparent fee structure.

Discover why so many clients choose us, and what makes us a world-leading provider of CFDs.

Stay on top of upcoming market-moving events with our customisable economic calendar.