Morning wrap (23.03.2021)

• US indices finished yesterday's trading higher. S&P 500 gained 0.70%, Dow Jones added 0.32% and Nasdaq moved 1.23% higher. Russell 2000 dropped 0.91%

• Stocks in Asia traded mostly lower. Nikkei dropped 0.5%, S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.1% and Kospi moved 1% lower. Indices from China traded lower as well

• DAX futures point to a lower opening of the European session

• Total number of coronavirus recoveries exceeded 100 million

• China imposed travel bans on 10 EU officials and 4 European entities. The move can be seen as a retaliation for sanctions EU has imposed on China for human rights violation

• Reports surfaced saying that Biden aides have another $3 trillion stimulus package almost ready

• According to text of the testimony, Powell will tell lawmakers today that 6.2% unemployment rate underestimates labour market shortfall

• NZD trades lower after the New Zealand government adopted a range of measures aimed at curbing rising house prices

• Over 18 thousand people were evacuated from their homes in Australia as massive flood has hit New South Wales

• According to South Korean media, North Korea has moved rocket launchers closer to the border

• Bitcoin attempts to recover from overnight lows below $53,000 mark

• Precious metals, oil and natural gas trade lower. Agricultural commodities trade mixed

• USD and JPY are the best performing major currencies while NZD and AUD lag the most

New Zealand dollar is underperforming major peers after government took actions to halt price increases on the domestic housing market. NZDUSD dropped below 0.7100 and trades at the lowest level in 3 months. Source: xStation5