The stability of the MSCI Asia Pacific regional index allows Asian equity markets to close the week with a 2,6% increase, the highest weekly progress since last March (the increase is 3,5% for the Topix, the Japan's largest-cap stock index).
Putin's reassuring statements on the Ukrainian conflict are met with a certain amount of skepticism, but have eased markets' concerns for now. Investors have thus shifted their attention to the profit trend, which has reserved positive surprises.
Even the weaker-than-expected economic data in Europe and Japan were absorbed without problems, having the only effect of comforting the markets on the maintenance of central bank stimulus.
The euro is stable at 1,336, and so is the yen at 102,5 against the dollar. Gold is also little changed, at 1313 $/ounce, while oil drops sharply, at 95,6 $/b (WTI – Brent marks 102,6).
