Asian Markets South On Syrian Tensions

 | Sep 04, 2013 04:20AM ET

Asian equities moved lower today as support for a strike on Syria is growing within the Congress of the United States.

The President met with key Congressional leaders who backed his plan for a limited strike on Syria for using chemical weapons. Obama reiterated there would be no troops on the ground and no repeat of Iraq or Afghanistan. House Speaker John Boehner is supporting the president and will encourage others to do the same.

STOCKS
The Nikkei 225 was down 0.8 percent from yesterday three week high, however osses were limited as the yen continues to flirt with $100 versus the Dollar. The Australian S&P/ASX lost o.7 percent and the Kospi in South Korea is now below 1,930 points as it fell almost five points on the day. The Shanghai was flat for the day.

Markets in the U.S> closed higher, mildly, during a choppy trading session after returning from the long Labor Day Weekend. The Dow Jones was up 23.65 points to finish at 14,833.96. We are still below the 15,000 level, which is concerning. Microsoft (NYSE:NOK ) surged up 31 percent on the news that Microsoft was buying its handheld business, see above notes on Microsoft.

CURRENCIES
The EUR/USD (1.3165) was down a bit yesterday as we are targeting 1.3000. Below that can test 1.2800 and then lower. If 1.3000 holds, we will continue our consolidation pattern till the FOMC meets on September 18. The EURGBP (0.8457) ticked up a bit as UK construction increased to 59.1. The USD/JPY (99.61) is still moving up, good news for Japan, we are testing 100.00 with a break higher targeting 110.00. See the chart below.