In Asian Equity Markets indices traded down on Thursday morning. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.39 percent, with shares of conglomerate Softbank Group declining more than 1.7 percent. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong also shed 0.34 percent as Hong Kong-listed shares of China Construction Bank declined more than 1 percent. South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.75 percent. Industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics saw its stock drop more than 1.8 percent after multiple accounts emerged of its $2,000 folding phone breaking for several users ahead of the device’s retail launch.

In Currency Markets the euro was buoyant on Thursday after more evidence of strength in China improved the outlook for the global economy, with the market looking next to European indicators to provide the currency with a further boost. The euro was a shade higher at $1.1298, having eked out a gain of 0.1 percent the previous day. The single currency has steadily recovered from a recent low of $1.1183 plumbed at the start of April. The Canadian dollar stood at C$1.3352 per dollar, having pulled back from a one-month high of C$1.3275 brushed on Wednesday.

In Commodities Markets oil prices edged down on Thursday despite a surprise decline in U.S. inventories, with international benchmark Brent retreating from a five-month high touched in the previous session. Brent crude futures were at $71.51 a barrel, down 11 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last close. Brent fell 0.1 percent on Wednesday, after earlier touching its highest since Nov. 8 at $72.27 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $63.67 per barrel, down 9 cents, or 0.1 percent, from their previous settlement. WTI closed the last session down 0.5 percent.

In US Equity Markets stocks ended slightly lower on Wednesday as a decline in healthcare shares overshadowed a string of positive corporate earnings and upbeat economic data from the United States and China. The healthcare sector saw its biggest percentage decline in four months, falling 2.9% on regulatory worries. The S&P 500 lost 0.23%, to 2,900.45 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.05%, to 7,996.08. Qualcomm Inc jumped 12.2% after the chipmaker settled its long-running legal battle with Apple Inc. Apple shares climbed 1.9%.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields drifted lower from four-week highs on Wednesday, as Wall Street shares lost steam in a holiday-shortened week and investors got back in the market after a recent sell-off. Financial markets are closed on Friday for the Good Friday holiday. U.S. 10-year note yields slipped to 2.592%, down from 2.594% late on Tuesday. Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker on Wednesday said believes in the U.S. growth story, which should warrant at least one rate hike this year.