Forex News

The Japanese stock market is modestly higher in choppy trading on Tuesday, extending the slight gains in the previous session, with the Nikkei 225 staying below the 27,900 level, despite the negative cues from Wall Street overnight, with the index alternating between the red and green as traders are making cautious trades amid concerns the US Fed will maintain the pace of interest rate hikes.

Ahead of Monday's holiday for King Bhumibol's birthday, the Thai stock market had halted the three-day winning streak in which it had gathered more than 30 points or 2 percent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now sits just above the 1,640-point plateau although it's expected to open in the red on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is soft on concerns for the economy and for the outlook for interest rates. The European markets were mixed and the U.S. bourses were firmly in the red and the Asian markets are tipped to follow the latter lead. The SET finished modestly lower on Friday following losses from the financial shares and energy producers. For the day, the index shed 6.81 points or 0.41 percent to finish at 1,641.63 after trading between 1,639.13 and 1,651.19. Volume was 14.670 billion shares worth 53.751 billion baht. There were 1,093 decliners and 432 gainers, with 534 stocks finishing unchanged. Among the actives, Advanced Info sank 0.79 percent, while Thailand Airport fell 0.34 percent, Asset World shed 0.80 percent, Banpu gained 0.76 percent, Bangkok Bank skidded 1.03 percent, Bangkok Dusit Medical dropped 0.85 percent, Bangkok Expressway lost 0.54 percent, B. Grimm added 0.67 percent, CP All Public declined 1.52 percent, Charoen Pokphand Foods retreated 1.67 percent, Energy Absolute dipped 0.26 percent, IRPC slipped 0.65 percent, Kasikornbank weakened 1.04 percent, Krung Thai Bank was down 0.56 percent, Krung Thai Card slumped 0.84 percent, PTT Oil & Retail eased 0.41 percent, PTT surrendered 0.75 percent, PTT Exploration and Production tanked 1.88 percent, PTT Global Chemical plunged 2.60 percent, SCG Packaging improved 0.44 percent, Siam Commercial Bank slid 0.47 percent, Siam Concrete tumbled 1.47 percent, Thai Oil plummeted 1.33 percent, True Corporation lost 0.86 percent, TTB Bank gave away 0.72 percent and BTS Group and Gulf were unchanged. The lead from Wall Street is negative as the major averages opened modestly lower and the losses accelerated as the day progressed, ending near session lows.

The Indonesia stock market has finished lower in three straight sessions, slipping more than 90 points or 1.3 percent along the way. The Jakarta Composite Index now rests just beneath the 6,990-point plateau and it's predicted to open under pressure again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is soft on concerns for the economy and for the outlook for interest rates. The European markets were mixed and the U.S. bourses were firmly in the red and the Asian markets are tipped to follow the latter lead.

The Hong Kong stock market turned emphatically higher again on Monday, one session after halting the three-day winning streak in which it had skyrocketed almost 1,450 points or 7.8 percent. The Hang Seng Index now sits just beneath the 19,520-point plateau although it's likely to hand back much of those gains on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is soft on concerns for the economy and for the outlook for interest rates. The European markets were mixed and the U.S. bourses were firmly in the red and the Asian markets are tipped to follow the latter lead.

The Australian stock market slightly lower on Tuesday, giving up the gains in the previous session, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 above the 7,300 level, following the negative cues from Wall Street overnight, led by weakness in resources and energy stocks amid a dip in commodity prices. Technology stocks also fell, even as traders braced for the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy decision.

The China stock market moved higher again on Monday, one session after ending the three-day winning streak in which it had advanced more than 85 points or 2.8 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index now rests just above the 3,210-point plateau although it's predicted to open under pressure again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is soft on concerns for the economy and for the outlook for interest rates. The European markets were mixed and the U.S. bourses were firmly in the red and the Asian markets are tipped to follow the latter lead.