Political Risk Rises In EM FX

 | May 10, 2016 07:29AM ET

Market Brief

Political risk rise in EM

Risk appetite came solidly back in the Asian session after a choppy US equity session. The positive sentiment was supported by Chicago Fed President Evans whose balanced comments indicated that the US economy was healthy yet encouraged a patient approach to further interest rate hikes. Markets shrugged off Fed Dudley's comment (despite status at the Fed) that two rate hikes in 2016 was a “reasonable expectation”. Asia’s regional equity market indices increased, lead by the Nikkei rising 2.00%. Japanese stockers were helped by verbal warnings against excessive JPY volatility. USD/JPY bullish rally continued reaching 108.89 in early Asia trading. Commodity prices are steady after yesterday’s decline following pressure after Chinese trade data indicated soft demand. WTI oil prices were subdued, around $42.25 after declining nearly 5% off the recent highs, as fears stemming from Canadian wildfires disrupting production subsided, and Saudi Aramco Chairman Khalid Al-Falih and the new Saudi oil minister reaffirmed their commitment to current oil production levels. Gold was able to bounce off the $1261.41 lows.