Nikkei index capped below the 15000 points mark

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - Mixed results today in the Asia-Pacific local share markets, with Nikkei having a negative day after posting a fresh 5-year high above the 15150 points mark at the open, highest since late 2007. Even though good GDP results for Japan released today, best in over a year, and relative Yen strength, with USD/JPY supported at the 102 handle, the Nikkei index is last at fresh session lows near the 14900 points, down -1.08%.

The big winner of the session though is the Korean Kospi that gains +0.88%, while Hong-Kong's Hang-Seng is also in the positive by a small +0.16%. Shanghai is in the positive too, up +0.26%. In the negative side, Australian ASX is down -0.11%, while US futures remain unchanged, following another fresh all time record high.

May 16, 2013

Forex: Sterling due for consolidation after recent declines?

The Sterling was able finish the day with small gains, closing up 8 pips at 1.5224. At one point the pair had traded as low as 1.5173, but was able to find support and drift higher much of the US session. It was a busy economic session out of the UK, with the Claim Count figure coming in better then expected at -7.3k vs. -3.0k forecast. Furthermore, the Bank of England released its latest quarterly inflation report which could have influence on the pair in coming days

Forex Flash: Too early to expect a sustained appreciation in the greenback - BNZ

As Currency Strategist at BNZ Mike Jones notes, “we’ve seen the USD make a few false starts before, as periods of US optimism briefly compel the market to price an end to Fed easing. We need to be cautious about believing this time is any different,” the analyst says.