The main moves in financial markets; Financial events coming up this week 

Stocks traded mixed in Asia, following two weeks of losses driven by a backdrop of uncertain trade conditions and signs that some key economies are slowing. Treasury yields steadied just below 2.90 percent.

U.S. equity futures advanced with stocks in Japan and Australia, while shares fluctuated in Shanghai and Hong Kong. European futures nudged higher. Treasuries held last week’s gains and the yen was steady after a bout of risk aversion that hammered global equities in recent sessions. The dollar edged lower after a strong week that took it to the highest in a month. Oil remains below $52 in New York. The yuan was little changed offshore. Japanese bonds are in focus as a recent slide in yields threatens to push the benchmark 10-year bond yield below zero percent.

With global growth forecasts for 2019 being questioned amid the U.S.-China trade tussle, investors may get some clues on the policy path from this week’s Federal Reserve meeting and press conference from Chairman Jerome Powell. That’s the last key event scheduled as global equities round out what’s been the worst year since 2011, on course to drop about 9 percent amid concern surrounding the earnings outlook.

“There’s been a reevaluation of growth and inflation prospects over 2019 with the trade war now looking extremely negative,” Steve Goldman, fund manager at Kapstream Capital, told Bloomberg TV in Sydney. “We’re going to see a lot of volatility.”

This weekend brought further changes at the Trump administration. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will leave at the end of the year amid a swirl of federal investigations. Next on the list could be Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and the president has also mused about replacing Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, people familiar with the matter said.

Investors will keep monitoring Brexit developments after Theresa May’s team pushed back against reports they are warming to a second referendum on Brexit. David Lidington, her effective deputy, and Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell rejected the idea of another vote after newspapers reported they’d held talks on the issue. The U.K. prime minister will face Parliament on Monday.

Coming Up

• The Federal Reserve holds its final policy meeting of 2018 on Tuesday and Wednesday. The rate decision will be followed by a press conference with Chairman Jerome Powell.
• The Bank of Japan’s monetary policy decision is due Thursday, followed by a briefing from Governor Haruhiko Kuroda.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping marks the 40th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s opening of the nation’s economy to the world with a keynote speech at a conference scheduled for Tuesday.
• A partial U.S. government shutdown could start this week if lawmakers and President Trump fail to resolve how much money to allocate for Trump’s wall along the Mexican border.

And these are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

• Japan’s Topix index rose 0.1 percent at the 3 p.m. close in Tokyo.
• Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 1 percent, outperforming the region. BHP led gains after completing a buyback and offering a special dividend.
• Shanghai Composite Index was little changed.
• Hang Seng Index was flat.
• Futures on the S&P 500 rose 0.3 percent. The S&P 500 Index fell 1.9 percent on Friday.
• FTSE 100 Index futures rose 0.2 percent.
• The MXAP Asia Pacific Index gained 0.3 percent.

Currencies

• The yen held at 113.50 per dollar, down 0.1 percent.
• The offshore yuan ticked higher to 6.8987 per dollar.
• The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.1 percent. It jumped 0.3 percent on Friday to the highest in over a month.
• The euro bought $1.1309.
• The pound was flat at $1.2582.

Bonds

• The yield on 10-year Treasuries held at 2.89 percent.
• Australian 10-year bond yield slipped two basis points to 2.44 percent.

Commodities

• West Texas Intermediate crude added 0.2 percent to $51.29 a barrel.
• Gold slipped 0.2 percent to $1,237.00 an ounce.

Source: Bloomberg

---