In Asian Equity Markets stocks rose on the last trading day of the month, as investors focused on a mix of ebbing geopolitical tensions, robust earnings and economic data. South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index gained 0.62 percent, with gains seen in steelmakers, automakers and and oil-related stocks. Technology names traded mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index recorded more convincing gains, with the benchmark advancing 1.56 percent. The financials and property sectors led gains, with mainland banks climbing after reporting net profit growth on Friday. Meanwhile, markets in Japan and mainland China were closed on Monday.

In Currency Markets the US dollar held steady against a basket of major currencies on Monday after pulling back slightly from a 3-1/2-month high last week, pressured by a decline in the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield. The dollar’s index against a basket of six major currencies stood at 91.561, steady on the day but down from Friday’s high of 91.986, its strongest level since Jan. 11. Sterling eased 0.1 percent to $1.3780. On Friday, the British pound had set a near two-month low of $1.3748 on Friday after Britain’s economy slowed far more than expected in the first quarter of 2018, slashing expectations the Bank of England will raise interest rates in May.

In Commodities Markets oil prices edged lower on Monday as a rising rig count in the United States pointed to higher production, but prices held near more than three-year highs and were on track to rise for a second consecutive month. The oil complex has been driven by supply concerns amid prospects of the United States reimposing sanctions on Iran, while OPEC-led producers continue to withhold supplies. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, fell 39 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $74.25 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude future were at $67.89 a barrel, down 21 cents, or about 0.3 percent, from their last settlement.

In US Equity Markets indices closed nearly flat on Friday as inflation worries and struggling technology and energy stocks were offset by an advance in the consumer discretionary sector led by Amazon. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq eked out small gains while the Dow edged into negative territory by the end of the session. Amazon.com led the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, helping them close in positive territory as the online retailer’s shares rose 3.6 percent on the heels of a blockbuster earnings report. Seven of the 11 major S&P sectors were higher, with the defensive telecom and real estate sectors posting the biggest percentage gains, at 1.75 percent and 1.32 percent respectively.

In Bond Markets speculators’ net bearish bets on U.S. 10-year Treasury note futures climbed to a record high earlier this week when the 10-year yield rose to 3 percent for the first time in over four years, according to U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data released on Friday. Concerns about rising inflation and government debt had pushed the 10-year yield to 3.035 percent on Wednesday, which was last seen in January 2014 before retreating to 2.961 percent late on Friday. The 10-year Treasury yield fell 3.1 basis points to 2.959 percent on Friday. Two-year note yield slipped 0.8 basis point to 2.484 percent.