In Asian Equity Markets indices were mixed in Thursday morning. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index up 0.2 percent as shares of China Construction Bank fell about 0.57 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.45 percent while the Topix shed 0.46 percent in morning trade, as shares of robot maker Fanuc fell around 2.5 percent. In South Korea, the Kospi fell 0.14 percent as industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics and chip-maker SK Hynix saw their stock declined 1.18 percent and 3.53 percent, respectively, following a fall in semiconductor stocks overnight stateside.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar held above a three-week low on Thursday as investors remained cautious amid uncertainty over the progress in U.S.-China trade talks, while sterling rallied on bets that the chance of a no-deal Brexit was shrinking. The dollar index against a basket of six major rivals last traded a shade lower at 96.085. It had edged up nearly 0.2 percent for the first time in four days overnight, after brushing a three-week low of 95.883 earlier in that session. The Aussie was last at $0.7140, after shedding about two-thirds of a percent during the previous session.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Thursday, dragged down by weakening factory output in China and Japan and record U.S. crude output. International Brent crude futures were at $66.15 per barrel, down 24 cents, or 0.4 percent from their last close. U.S. WTI crude oil futures were at $56.92 per barrel, down 2 cents from their last settlement. Prices were dragged down by growing American crude oil production, which has risen by more than 2 million barrels per day (bpd) over the last year, to an unprecedented 12.1 million bpd.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 flitted between positive and negative territory on Wednesday but was well above its session low after testimonies to U.S. Congress from trade and central bank officials as well as President Donald Trump’s former lawyer brought few surprises. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite ended flat on the day. Of the 11 major S&P sectors, six were trading lower with the healthcare index weighing the most. Mylan NV declined 15 percent after the generic drug-maker missed quarterly profit estimates and forecast weak 2019 earnings.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields rose in afternoon trade ahead of Thursday’s fourth-quarter gross domestic product figure, despite the growth slowdown suggested by Wednesday’s report that the U.S. goods trade deficit widened significantly in December. The yield curve was steeper as two-year yields rose at a slower rate than 10-year yields.  Italian government bond yields also rose sharply on Wednesday, pushed higher by disappointing economic data, a debt auction and criticism from the European Commission over the state of Italy’s economy.