Markets Overview
- ASX SPI 200 futures down 1.0% to 7,087.00
- Dow Average down 0.7% to 34,079.18
- Aussie up 0.2% to 0.7194 per US$
- U.S. 10-year yield little changed at 1.9286%
- Australia 3-year bond yield fell 2bps to 1.62%
- Australia 10-year bond yield fell 3bps to 2.22%
- Gold spot up 0.3% to $1,904.61
- Brent futures up 3.1% to $96.40/bbl
Economic Events
- 9:30am: (AU) Feb. ANZ Roy Morgan Weekly Consumer, prior 103.2
- 11am: (AU) Australia to Sell A$150 Million 3% 2025 Bonds
- 12pm: (AU) RBA’s Kent-Speech
After those markets closed for the day, Euro Stoxx 50 futures extended its decline to more than 4% after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the self-proclaimed separatist republics that his country backs in eastern Ukraine. That intensified tension with the West as the U.S. warns Moscow plans an invasion of its neighbor.
The dispute is worsening at the same time another potential threat to the global economy — higher interest rates from central banks, including the Federal Reserve — looms on the horizon.
Futures on 10-year U.S. Treasuries rose, suggesting renewed demand for a haven; the notes themselves aren’t trading Monday because of the U.S. holiday. Crude oil futures rose.
Other News
It’s the sort of property that might be better measured in square inches than square feet.
A London apartment with only 75 square feet — that’s 10,800 square inches, or 7 square meters — of living space is set to go on the auction block with a starting bid of 50,000 pounds ($68,000).
The winner needs to be prepared to pay cash and sleep above their microwave.
The microflat in Lower Clapton, in east London, is pushing the boundaries ofhow small apartments can go — and how much people would be willing to pay for them. The apartment’s current tenant is paying 800 pounds per month, and photos show that a bed has been laid out on a bunk on top of shelves, drawers and a microwave.
