Today's day in the markets of the East had a similar trend to yesterday's. Profit-taking and uncertain data (the second 'private' PMI index – by HSBC and Markit – of China's services sector confirmed the decline announced yesterday by the 'official' index) left the field free for correction. For the good mood to return, we will have to wait for the data on the American economy (the week that opens is full of them, starting with today's data on the US PMI for services).
In Japan, the markets reopened after many days of vacation, and the Nikkei lost more than 2% (but the larger-cap Topix loses 0,9%) with a yen which, after going above 105 against the dollar, it is back to 104-something. However, Nomura chartists see a good year in the index's esoteric formations ('white candlestick', whatever that means).
The euro is at 1,359 and gold is holding on to recent gains, hitting $1238/ounce. Black gold, in the WTI version, is still weak, at just over 94 $/n (107 Brent). Equity futures on London and Wall Street are stable.
