Markets in Asia open well after the S&P500 nibbled at another high. The MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan regional index rose this week by 1,4% and Tokyo, where today the Nikkei is up 0,5% one hour after the close, recorded its second week of progress. In America, 77% of companies reporting earnings beat analysts' forecasts, and yesterday's data was especially comforting, with new jobless benefits falling to the level that prevailed just before the Great Recession.
In Japan, in June, consumer prices for the overall index show +3,6% on the year and 2,3% for core inflation (net of fresh food and energy): for July, limited to Tokyo, inflation marks, respectively, 2,8 and 2,1%. The yen depreciated slightly, to 101,7 and the euro, again against the dollar, is at yesterday's levels, at 1,347. Gold is still losing ground, at 1293 dollars/ounce, and so is black gold: WTI crude oil falls to 102 dollars a barrel (107,2 for Brent). Equity futures on NY and London were slightly negative.
