Asian stocks were in the red, influenced by Chinese macroeconomic data. Shanghai dropped 1,38%, while Hong Kong lost 0,42% and Tokyo closed down 0,66%. Positive Sydney (+0,66%) and Seoul (+0,18%).
The week – and month – started on a disappointing note after last Friday's poor performance. The Chinese PMI index recorded an unexpected contraction, to 49,8 from 50,1 (Markit-HSBC 'private' index). The figure has stoked the fears, which have always been smoldering, of a sudden landing of the Chinese economy and, together with the slowdown in exports, confirm the influence that the weakness of the rest of the world has on the economy of the Celestial Empire.
Crude oil, which on Friday had shot up to over $48/b (after the news of the closure of many fracking wells in America, which were no longer profitable), did not maintain its gains and fell back to 46,9 (51,6 for Brent, with a differential that widens again). Gold recovers from Friday's levels and reaches 1280 $/ounce. Futures on Wall Street were positive (+0,2%).
