Gold Silver Reports (GSR) – Asia Stocks Rise as Earnings Eyed – Equity markets in Japan and Australia eked out feeble gains in a muted start, while Hong Kong stocks pointed higher. Futures on the S&P 500 Index climbed. The S&P 500 Index gained to the highest in almost a month and erased its loss for the year as investors turned their focus to the earnings season after there was no immediate reprisal to the U.S.-led missile strike in Syria and trade concerns took a back seat.
The dollar traded at the lowest in two months as U.S. President Donald Trump accused Russia and China of devaluing their currencies, contradicting an assessment from the Treasury Department. Treasury yields were steady and West Texas crude futures traded below $67 a barrel.
While geopolitical concerns linger, investor focus this week is back on corporate earnings and a slew of Federal-Reserve officials who are due to speak, including the incoming head of the New York Fed, John Williams. Traders are also watching China, where later Tuesday data on economic growth in addition to retail sales and industrial production are released. – Neal Bhai Reports (NBR)
