After the positive closure of Wall Street on Friday, when the S&P500 index had touched the record high, Asia has started this short (because Christmas) week well. The MSCI Asia Pacific regional index rose 0,7% to mark the third consecutive day of gains.
The upheavals of recent days, linked to the Russian crisis, are subsiding, but are smoldering. The ruble recovered slightly, to 58 against the dollar, and crude oil also recovered (57,9 $/b for WTI – 62,2 for Brent), reassuring the oil horizon, after the declarations of the oil minister of 'Saudi Arabia, which sees an increase in demand useful for consolidating prices.
The yen returns to its most depreciated levels, at 119,5 against the dollar and the Japanese stock market is stable (the Nikkei is just above 17600). The Shanghai index, on the other hand, rose again (+1,5%) and reached a 4-year high.
The dollar also strengthens against the euro, which stands at 1,224 to the relief of Eurozone exporters. Gold is little changed, and remains just below 1200 $/ounce. Equity futures on the S&P500 are slightly positive.
