In Asian Equity Markets indices Australia and Japan indices traded mostly higher on Tuesday while many Asian markets were shut for a public holiday. Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.54 percent, with the heavily weighted financial sector gaining 1.26 percent. Major banking names gained more than 1 percent each. Shares of ANZ rose 2.09 percent, Commonwealth Bank was up 1.67 percent, Westpac increased by 1.43 percent and the National Australia Bank added 1.97 percent. ANZ reported a rise in first-half profits that beat market expectations. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 erased early losses to trade up 0.12 percent while the Topix index traded down 0.19 percent.

In Currency Markets the US dollar held steady near four-month highs on Tuesday, awaiting the Federal Reserve’s policy decision and key U.S. employment data due later in the week for fresh cues. The Fed concludes its two-day meeting on Wednesday. The central bank is widely expected to stand pat on policy and investors will be watching for hints of a rate hike in June. The markets are also focused on Friday’s April U.S. non-farm payrolls report, which could provide further signs of strength in the world’s biggest economy. The euro was nearly flat at $1.2079 after slipping 0.4 percent overnight and approaching $1.2055, the 3-1/2-month low set on Friday.

In Commodities Markets oil prices extended gains on Tuesday, supported by comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he was sure U.S. President Donald Trump would do “the right thing” in reviewing Iran’s nuclear deal with western powers. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery was up 24 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $68.81 a barrel, after settling up 47 cents on Monday. London Brent crude for new July delivery was up 21 cents at $74.90. The June contract expired on Monday, settling up 53 cents at $75.17. Trade was quiet in Asia as many markets including China, India and Singapore were closed for public holidays.

In US Equity Markets stocks fell on Monday as healthcare stocks slid and investors worried about rising costs for companies as oil prices rose, although the major indexes eked out a gain in April to snap a two-month losing streak. The healthcare sector, which fell 1.6 percent, weighed most heavily on the S&P 500, as shares of Allergan plc and Celgene Corp led the sector’s slide. The S&P 500 lost 0.82 percent, to 2,648.05 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.75 percent, to 7,066.27. McDonald’s Corp shares jumped 5.8 percent after the world’s biggest fast-food chain by revenue topped analysts’ forecasts for profit and sales.

In Bond Markets Japanese government bond prices rose on Tuesday, with recent gains in U.S. Treasuries and the Bank of Japan’s regular debt buying operation supporting the market. The five-year and 10-year JGB yields declined by one basis point to minus 0.115 percent and 0.040 percent , respectively. The 30-year year yield fell 1.5 basis points to 0.725 percent. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield, which had climbed to a four-year high above 3 percent late last week, pulled back to 2.956 percent as a slew of data that missed expectations rekindled concerns about signs of slowing growth in the world’s largest economy.