Markets Overview

  • ASX SPI 200 futures up 0.2% to 7,478.00
  • Dow Average up 0.4% to 35,443.82
  • Aussie up 0.5% to 0.7402 per US$
  • U.S. 10-year yield little changed at 1.2886%
  • Australia 3-year bond yield fell 2bps to 0.27%
  • Australia 10-year bond yield fell 4bps to 1.21%
  • Gold spot down 0.2% to $1,809.90
  • Brent futures up 1.6% to $72.75/bbl

Economic Events

  • 9am: (AU) Aug. Markit Australia PMI Composite, prior 43.5
  • 9am: (AU) Aug. Markit Australia PMI Services, prior 43.3
  • 11am: (AU) Australia to Sell A$1 Billion 2.75% 2027 Bonds

Australia posted a fresh record trade surplus as iron ore exports defied gravity to advance further. But this might be a peak given China’s clampdown on its steel industry has already sent ore prices tumbling. Asian stocks look set for a steady start Friday after cyclicals led Wall Street to a record and the dollar fell ahead of a U.S. jobs report that will shape views on the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy.
Futures for Japan and Australia rose, but retreated for Hong Kong. U.S. equity contracts fluctuated after energy and industrial shares helped the S&P 500 scale a new peak. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield edged down and a gauge of the dollar hit a four-week low. In commodities, crude oil was near $70 a barrel on bets that the market can absorb additional supply from OPEC+ as the U.S. Gulf grapples with Hurricane Ida’s impact.

Other News

Justice takes many forms and a judge in Wyoming is knocking up to $200 off traffic fines and other court fees for defendants who present proof they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19.
“It’s just another form of community service,” Natrona County Circuit Court Judge Steven Brown tells the Casper Star-Tribune.  “You can go down and clean dog poop at the shelter or something, but in the big picture we need to get COVID under control … we’ll be better off if people go get that shot.”
The judge offered a woman making an initial appearance this week $200 off a $560 fine if she got vaccinated within 30 days and presented proof at the courthouse, the newspaper reports.