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Asia Roundup: Aussie retreats from near 4-week peak on fresh lockdowns, dollar rebounds against yen on upbeat service sector data, Asian shares plunge - Tuesday, July 7th, 2020

Market Roundup

  • Oil prices fall on demand concerns
     
  • Gold steadies near 8-year high
     

Economic Data Ahead

  • (0400 ET/0800 GMT) Italy Retail Sales s.a. (MoM)(May)
     
  • (0400 ET/0800 GMT) Italy Retail Sales n.s.a (YoY)(May)
     

Key Events Ahead

  • No Significant Events Scheduled

FX Beat

DXY: The dollar index steadied as risks from rising coronavirus cases offset strong economic data, denting confidence in an economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The greenback against a basket of currencies traded 0.1 percent higher at 96.85, having touched a low of 96.57 on Monday, its lowest since June 24.

EUR/USD: The euro nudged lower after rising to a near 2-week peak in the prior session on data showing retail sales in the eurozone rose by 17.8 percent in May from April, its steepest increase since eurozone records for retail sales began in 1999. The European currency traded 0.05 percent down at 1.1303, having touched a high of 1.1345 on Monday, its highest since June 23. Investors’ attention will remain on a series of data from Eurozone economies, ahead of the U.S. JOLTS Job Opening figures. Immediate resistance is located at 1.1348, a break above targets 1.1372. On the downside, support is seen at 1.1275, a break below could drag it below 1.1250 (10-DMA).

USD/JPY: The dollar bounced back from a 1-week low after data showed U.S. service industry activity rebounded to almost pre-pandemic levels last month, with the headline figure of 57.1, surpassing expectations of 50.2. The major was trading 0.2 percent up at 107.54, having hit a low of 107.24 earlier, its lowest since June 29. Investors’ will continue to track the broad-based market sentiment, ahead of the U.S. JOLTS Job Opening figures. Immediate resistance is located at 107.90, a break above targets 108.20. On the downside, support is seen at 107.10, a break below could take it near at 106.73.

GBP/USD: Sterling eased below the 1.2500 handle as traders looked ahead to this month’s Brexit negotiations. Britain left the European Union in January, but it has full access to the bloc during a transition that runs until the end of December. The major traded 0.05 percent down at 1.2484, having hit a high of 1.2530 on Thursday, it’s highest since June 24. Investors’ attention will remain on the geopolitical developments ahead of the U.S. fundamental drivers. Immediate resistance is located at 1.2542, a break above could take it near 1.2588. On the downside, support is seen at 1.2456, a break below targets 1.2429 (10-DMA). Against the euro, the pound was trading flat at 90.50 pence, having hit a high of 88.94 on Friday, it’s highest since June 18.

AUD/USD: The Australian dollar declined from a near 4-week peak after the country's second-most populous state announced 6-weeks of stay-at-home restrictions and a lockdown for the city of Melbourne to contain rising cases. However, the downside appears limited as the Reserve Bank of Australia held the benchmark interest rate at a record low 0.25 percent, as expected, and said it would maintain its accommodative approach for as long as required. The major trades 0.3 percent down at 0.6953, having hit a high of 0.6997 earlier, it’s highest since June 11. Investors will continue to track overall market sentiment, ahead of U.S. economic releases. Immediate resistance is located at 0.7030, a break above could take it near 0.7064. On the downside, support is seen at 0.6906 (10-DMA) a break below targets 0.6860.

Equities Recap

Asian shares plunged amid growing concerns over the surge in coronavirus cases in the United States.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slumped 0.25 percent.

Tokyo's Nikkei fell 0.5 percent to 22,614.69 points, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index eased 0.05 percent to 6,012.90 points. South Korea's KOSPI declined 1.05 percent to 2,165.26 points.

Shanghai composite index rose 1.2 percent to 3,372.13 points, while CSI 300 index traded 1.5 percent up at 4,739.25 points.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng traded 0.7 percent lower at 26,159.32 points. Taiwan shares shed 0.2 percent to 12,092.97 points.

Commodities Recap

Crude oil prices declined, erasing previous session gains, on concerns that the surge in coronavirus cases in the United States will limit a recovery in fuel demand. International benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.6 percent down at $42.79 per barrel by 0534 GMT, having hit a high of $43.68 on Monday, its highest since June 23. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was trading 0.6 percent lower at $40.33 a barrel, after rising as high as $41.06 on Monday, its highest since June 23.

Gold prices held firm near an 8-year high as a spike in COVID-19 cases around the world overshadowed a survey showing a rebound in U.S. services industry activity and expectations of a revival in China's economy. Spot gold steadied at $1,783.09 per ounce at 0542 GMT, hovering towards a high of $1,789.26 hit last week, its highest since October 2012. U.S. gold futures edged 0.1 percent higher to $1,794.30.

Treasuries Recap

The U.S. Treasury yields edged lower, with the benchmark 10-year note yield trading at 0.669 percent.

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