· European stocks were mixed Thursday morning, after EU leaders agreed to delay Brexit for up to six months.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 edged slightly lower shortly after the opening bell, with sectors and major bourses pointing in opposite directions.
· Asian stocks stepped back from near eight-month highs on Thursday and the dollar eased as cautious European and U.S. central banks reinforced investors’ worries about the slowing global economy and trade protectionism.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.4 percent after four straight days of gains took it to the highest since last August. Japan’s Nikkei reversed early losses to end 0.1 percent higher.
“Traders continue to operate in a ‘wait and watch’ mode as they look for the next opportunity in a cautious market,” said Nick Twidale, Sydney-based analyst at Rakuten Securities Australia. “Two big event risks are now behind us with the ECB and Fed.”
· Japan’s Nikkei edged higher in choppy trade on Thursday on futures-led buying, but gains were limited by weaker financial stocks after the U.S. Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes reinforced dovish policy expectations.
The Nikkei share average ended 0.1 percent higher at 21,711.38, after swinging in and out of positive territory. Short-term investors were seen buying futures when the dollar edged up to trade above 111 yen, traders said.
· China stocks fell the most in three weeks on Thursday, as investor sentiment soured amid trade tensions between the United States and the European Union, and worries over a slowdown in global economic growth.
The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 2.2 percent, to 3,997.58, while the Shanghai Composite Index closed down 1.6 percent at 3,189.96, both logging their biggest single-day drops since March 25.
In a fresh escalation of trade tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened new tariffs on goods from the European Union even as the Sino-U.S. trade dispute remains unresolved.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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