In Asian Equity Markets indices traded cautiously on Tuesday morning. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index slipped fractionally as shares of HSBC rose more than 0.1 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was around 0.2 percent lower as shares of conglomerate and index heavyweight Softbank Group fell about 0.5 percent. Over in South Korea, the Kospi was largely flat. Meanwhile, Australia’s ASX 200 recovered from earlier losses to rise 0.13 percent. Mainland Chinese shares were mixed in early trade, with the Shanghai composite largely flat

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar was under pressure on Tuesday, weighed by growing expectations the Federal Reserve would shift to a more accommodative policy stance this week and concerns about slower U.S. economic growth. As the dollar took a breather, other major currencies advanced by default. The dollar has weakened in recent sessions on growing expectations the Fed will strike a dovish tone at its two-day policy meeting due to start later on Tuesday. The dollar index was a shade lower at 96.495, hovering close to a two-week low.

In Commodities Markets oil prices hovered just below 2019 highs early on Tuesday, supported by ongoing supply cuts led by producer club OPEC. U.S. sanctions against oil producers Iran and Venezuela are also boosting crude prices, although traders say the market looks capped by rising American output. U.S. WTI futures were at $59.08 per barrel, virtually unchanged from their last settlement and close to the 2019 high of $59.23 reached the previous day. Brent crude oil futures were up 2 cents at $67.56 per barrel, within a dollar of this year’s high of $68.14 reached late last week.

In US Equity Markets banks and tech helped lead Wall Street higher on Monday, while Boeing and Facebook were a drag and investors eyed this week’s U.S. Federal Reserve meeting for affirmation of its commitment to “patient” monetary policy. The S&P 500 gained 0.37 percent, to 2,832.94 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.34 percent, to 7,714.48. Goldman Sachs and Citigroup advanced 2.1 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively, on a report that the banks are helping Germany’s two biggest lenders with a potential merger worth more than $28 billion.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury debt yields ticked up on Monday but made no significant moves as traders held off placing large positions ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy-setting meeting this week at which the U.S. central bank is expected to keep interest rates steady. The benchmark 10-year yield was up 0.9 basis point, last at 2.602 percent, trading within a narrow range. At either end of the curve, the two-year yield was up 1 basis point, while the 30-year yield was down 0.4 basis point.