Morning Brief
US stocks edged higher — the S&P 500 ended +0.74%, while the Nasdaq finished +0.67%. On the safe-haven front, Gold climbed 1.13% to $2,902.50, while the 10-year Treasury yield fell 6 bps to 4.21%, while the dollar softened (EUR/USD 1.0523).
APAC markets were mixed overnight, with Hang Seng leading at +1.39% and Nikkei 225 lagging at -1.70%. European markets are trading higher. US futures are signalling a cautious open — all three major contracts are in the red heading into the session.
What This Means
Stocks edged higher yesterday. The S&P 500 was up +0.7% — a quiet positive session, nothing dramatic.
Gold surged 1.1% yesterday. Investors are moving into safe havens — a sign of caution.
Bond yields fell 6 bps (10-year now at 4.21%). Falling yields typically support growth stocks and bond prices.
Pre-market futures are red — the market is signalling caution. It's worth watching whether sellers extend yesterday's weakness or buyers step in at the open.
Today's key events: JOLTS Job Openings and Fed Chair Powell Testimony are on the calendar. These can move markets — particularly bonds and rate-sensitive sectors — so be positioned before the prints rather than reacting after.
US Market Close
| Index |
Close |
Daily % |
| Gold |
2,902.50 |
+1.13% |
| S&P 500 |
5,983.99 |
+0.74% |
| Nasdaq |
19,026.39 |
+0.67% |
| Dow Jones |
43,840.91 |
+0.09% |
| USD Index |
107.10 |
-1.29% |
| Russell 2000 |
2,090.15 |
-1.41% |
| 10Y Treasury |
4.21% |
-6 bps |
Overnight Markets
Asia-Pacific (Closed)
| Index | Close | Daily % | Session |
|---|
| Nikkei 225 |
37,155.50 |
-1.70% |
Closed |
| Hang Seng |
23,521.80 |
+1.39% |
Closed |
| ASX 200 |
8,312.40 |
+0.39% |
Closed |
Europe
| Index | Close/Price | Daily % | Session |
|---|
| DAX |
22,850.10 |
+0.44% |
Early Session |
| FTSE 100 |
8,715.60 |
+0.41% |
Early Session |
| CAC 40 |
8,270.30 |
+0.73% |
Early Session |
Currencies & Safe Havens
| Pair |
Rate |
Daily % |
| EUR/USD |
1.0523 |
+0.41% |
| GBP/USD |
1.2701 |
+0.24% |
| USD/JPY |
149.8200 |
-0.85% |
| AUD/USD |
0.6310 |
+0.48% |
| USD/CNH |
7.2415 |
-0.12% |
| CHF/USD |
-- |
-- |
Pre-Market Futures
| Contract |
Price |
Daily % |
| S&P Futures |
5,972.25 |
-0.20% |
| Nasdaq Futures |
18,985.50 |
-0.21% |
| Dow Futures |
43,790.00 |
-0.12% |
What Moved Markets Yesterday
| Event |
Actual |
Expected |
Previous |
Surprise |
| ISM Manufacturing PMI |
50.3 |
49.5 |
50.9 |
Above |
Today’s Watch List
| Time (EST) |
Event |
Importance |
Expected |
| 10:00 AM |
JOLTS Job Openings |
High |
7.7M |
| 10:00 AM |
Fed Chair Powell Testimony |
High |
-- |
Positioning Notes
| Signal |
Suggested Action |
| All three futures contracts are red (S&P Futures -0.20%) |
Cautious open expected. Consider reducing intraday risk or waiting for price to stabilise before adding long exposure. |
| USD Index weakened -1.29% yesterday |
A softer dollar is a tailwind for emerging markets (EEM, VWO) and commodities (GLD, DJP). Consider tilting toward international and commodity exposure. |