In Asian Equity Markets indices traded mostly higher on Thursday mid-morning with Chinese mainland indexes rising more than 1 percent. The Shanghai composite traded up 1.82 percent and the Shenzhen composite rose 2.54 percent. In Australia, the ASX 200 rose 0.68 percent. The energy sub-index reversed early losses of more than 0.8 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 0.27 percent and the Topix index was lower by 0.31 percent. Major automakers declined with shares of Toyota down 0.65 percent, Nissan off by 0.62 percent and Honda lower by 1.23 percent.

In Currency Markets the yen was broadly higher on Thursday on trade tensions and on revelations the Bank of Japan is under pressure to move away from its accommodative policy, while the New Zealand dollar slid on a decidedly dovish policy stance by nation’s central bank. The dollar stretched overnight losses and was 0.15 percent lower at 110.78 yen its weakest in nine days. The New Zealand dollar fell about 1 percent at $0.6679, its lowest since May 30. Its antipodean peer the Australian dollar fared better, last trading down 0.1 percent at $0.7426.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rebounded on Thursday after heavy losses in the previous session that came as the China-U.S. trade dispute escalated, with official Chinese data indicating energy demand in the world’s top importer has yet to recover its strength. Brent crude futures were up 24 cents, or a third of a percent, at $72.52 a barrel, following a decline of more than 3 percent on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures had gained 7 cents to $67.02 a barrel, after falling 3.22 percent the previous session.

In US Equity Markets stocks struggled for direction on Wednesday as falling oil prices and trade anxieties battled with gains in technology and financial stocks. The S&P 500 ended flat after nearly reaching the record high set Jan. 26, following several days of gains. Energy stocks were the heaviest drag on the S&P 500, falling 0.9 percent. Technology provided the biggest boost to the S&P 500, led by Facebook Inc, Microsoft Corp and Alphabet Inc. Walt Disney Co was down 1.9 percent and was among biggest weights on the Dow after its quarterly profit missed estimates.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields held firm on Wednesday as investors bought a hefty chunk of the record $26 billion sale of 10-year notes, the second leg of this week’s $78 billion in quarterly refunding. The 10-year sale followed mediocre demand for $34 billion in three-year debt on Tuesday. The U.S. Treasury will complete its refunding with a record $18 billion in 30-year bonds on Thursday. On the open market, the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield was 2.971 percent, marginally lower on the day.