ASX to drop, global equities retreat
Share
Australian shares are poised to drop at the open, amid a global retreat in equities amid concerns about renewed COVID-19 infections.
ASX futures tumbled 86 points or 1.2 per cent to 6911 near 7am AEST. The currency slid 0.4 per cent.
The yield on the US 10-year note fell 5 basis points to 1.56 per cent at 4.59pm in New York. Bitcoin was trading near $US56,675 near 7.20am AEST on bitstamp.net.
Wall Street’s main indexes fell for a second straight day as a global spike in coronavirus cases hit travel stocks and investors had second thoughts about big US banks’ apparently stellar earnings last week.
China Enterprises index HSCE falls 0.06% Mainland investors are net buyers through Stock Connect
April 20 (Reuters) - Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged higher on Tuesday to end at its highest close in more than a month led by gains in financial stocks, and robust inflows from the mainland through the Stock Connect. At the close of trade, the Hang Seng index was up 29.58 points or 0.1% at 29,135.73, its highest close since March 18. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index fell 0.06% to 11,085.87. The financial sector ended 0.4% higher, offsetting weakness elswhere. The energy sub-index dipped 0.5% and the Hang Seng TECH index fell 0.42%. China kept its benchmark lending rate for corporate and household loans steady for the 12th straight month at its April fixing on Tuesday, matching market expectations. Mainland Chinese investors were net buyers of shares through the Stock Connect programme, Refinitiv data showed . The top gainer on the Hang Seng was Haidilao Int
Australia
Australian shares are poised to extend last week’s advance, on the strength of positive earnings and data from overseas.
ASX futures were up 37 points or 0.5 per cent to 7,071 suggesting a positive start to trading.
The S&P 500 and the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded their fourth straight week of gains, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq finished less than one percent below its own all-time closing high achieved on 12 February.
Unofficially, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 159.31 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 34,195.3, the S&P 500 gained 14.39 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 4,184.81 and the Nasdaq Composite added 11.07 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 14,049.84.
ASX to rise as global equities rally rolls on afr.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from afr.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
At the close of trade, the Hang Seng index was up 176.57 points or 0.61 per cent at 28,969.71. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index rose 1.12 per cent to 11,027.51.