In Asian Equity Markets indices traded mixed on Thursday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was flat around 23,672.91. In South Korea, the Kospi gained 0.95 percent as blue chip stocks traded mixed. Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor were up 2.2 percent and 2 percent, respectively, while, Posco fell 0.7 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index traded near flat. Chinese online services company Meituan Dianping made its trading debut in Hong Kong. The stock traded at around 72.5 Hong Kong dollars in mid-morning trade, compared to Meituan’s initial public offering price of HK$69 a share.

In Currency Markets the US dollar hovered near a seven-week low against a basket of major currencies on Thursday, as safe-haven demand for the U.S. currency ebbed on relief that the Sino-U.S. trade war may not be as damaging as once feared. The British pound stepped back from two-month highs on caution over whether the European Union and UK can reach a Brexit deal at their current summit while the New Zealand dollar jumped to three-week highs after strong domestic GDP data. The dollar index fell 0.1 percent to 94.467 , near its seven-week low of 94.308 touched on Tuesday.

In Commodities Markets oil rose for a third day on Thursday amid another drawdown in U.S. inventories and strong U.S. gasoline demand, while signs OPEC may not raise output to address shrinking supplies from Iran also supported prices.  Global benchmark Brent crude was up by 20 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $79.60, after gaining half-a-percent on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 55 cents, or 0.8 percent, at $71.67 a barrel, after rising nearly 2 percent the previous session.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 and the Dow rose on Wednesday, with the Dow hitting its highest level since late January as rising Treasury yields boosted the financial sector and trade jitters abated. Technology stocks offset the gains, dragging on the markets and pulling the tech-heavy Nasdaq into negative territory. Financial companies were up 1.9 percent, the biggest percentage gainer among the major sectors. Of the 11 major sectors of the S&P 500, six were in negative territory.  The S&P 500 gained 0.14 percent, to 2,908.33 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.16 percent, to 7,943.09.

In Bond Markets the U.S. 10-year Treasury note yield hit fresh four-month highs on Wednesday, nearing its 2011 peak as the market shrugged off trade fears and mounting inflation and strong economic data raised expectations of a hawkish Federal Reserve meeting next week. Longer-dated bond yields rose for the third day in a row, steepening the yield curve, and extending a rally in the 10- and 30-year yields that began at the start of the month. The benchmark government bond yield has risen 22.1 basis points since Aug. 31, with the 30-year up 22.6 basis points over the same period.