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Nikkei 225 closes higher by 0.19% at 21,802.59

Tokyo’s main index closes a little higher in mixed session for Asian stocks

Nikkei 09-04
It’s hard to really read anything into risk sentiment as we begin the week. The Nikkei closes a tad higher today but Chinese stocks are performing weaker with the Shanghai Composite down by 0.2%. Traders continue to wait on US-China trade talks as well as any fresh signals on global growth developments, and that is leaving for some indecision ahead of European trading.
US equity futures are down by 0.1% while Treasury yields are more or less flat, so expect the sluggish sentiment to be mirrored by European equities as well.

China looks into eliminating Bitcoin mining

China’s state planner decides to add cryptocurrency mining to list of activities that should be phased out

China Bitcoin

The NRDC added cryptocurrency mining to a draft list of industrial activities it is seeking to restrict or eliminate as they did not adhere to relevant laws and regulations, were unsafe, wasted resources, or polluted the environment.

But before any decision is made on this, the NRDC will be seeking public opinions on the matter and the public has until 7 May to comment on the draft.
It’s not a major surprise as China has been rather strict when it comes to anything involving cryptocurrencies but looking to outright ban the mining process altogether will certainly be a step up from the existing ruling. This will at least force Chinese crypto-mining firms to move their operations base elsewhere and reveals the attitude that Chinese authorities have towards the cryptocurrency industry (a precursor for the future as well).

China – sales of new homes in bellwether megacity +64% in March

The South China Morning Post says Chongqing is “the barometer of China’s national market”.

  •  China’s largest market in terms of area of residential apartments sold. It is also indicative of the overall China market, with the country’s other coastal cities generally moving ahead of the national cycle
Sales of new homes in the city +64.3 per cent in March

Where to for the yuan? Analysts offer up diverging views

Conflicting views on the Chinese currency

Morgan Stanley like yuan, citing (in brief)
  • we believe the downside of owning CNH is very limited now as the authority is likely to keep a stable or stronger currency. 
  • Meanwhile, there are a few data points from China (credit growth, CPI and trade balance) this week and our economist is more bullish on most of the data vs the Street. e recommend selling USD/CNH, along with our more structural bullish view on CNH vs SGD, as we expect CNH to strengthen in trade-weighted basket terms. The risk to the trade is downside surprise in Chinese data.
Citi says they expect the appreciation bias for yuan to strengthen near-term, citing
  • improving chance of a trade deal
  • little PBOC intervention
  • better-than-expected data
  • an easing in capital outflow pressures
Commerz:
  • say traders will be cautious as the US and China have not yet reached a deal
  • see yuan falling moderately
  • longer term depends on the deal details
Daily CNH chart:
Conflicting views on the Chinese currency

S&P gains for the 8th day in a row

Nasdaq also higher. Dow ends lower by Boeing (down -4.4% on the day).

The S&P closed with modest gains but it was good enough for the 8th straight gain.
The Nasdaq also moved higher but the Dow was down on the day on the back of Boeing shares which tumbled 4.4%.
The final numbers showed:
  • S&P up 3.03 points or 0.10% at 2895.77. The high reached 2895.95. The low extended to 2880.78
  • Nasdaq closed up 15.191 points or 0.19% at 7953.88. The high reached 7955.90. The low reached 7891.85
  • Dow closed down -83.97 points or -0.32% at 26341.03. The high reached 26344.90. The low extended to 26246.03. Without the impact of Boeing, the Dow would have been higher.
Some of the winners today:
  • Wynn Resorts, +2.77%
  • Schlumberger,  +2.67%
  • Apple, +1.57%
  • Schlumberger,  +2.767%
  • Procter & Gamble, +1.28%
  • Lockheed Martin, +1.04%
  • chipotle, was 0.89%
  • General Mills, +0.86%
  • Citigroup, +0.81%
  • Home Depot, +0.76%
  • Amazon, +0.68%
  • Alibaba,  +0.60%

Some losers include:

  • General Electric, -5.19%
  • Boeing, -4.42%
  • Papa Johns,  -4.02%
  • Southwest air, -2.44%
  • AMD, -1.55%
  • Netflix,  -1.12%
  • Micron,  -0.97%
  • Nike, -0.78%
  • Under Armour, -0.71%
  • Tesla, -0.64%
  • Facebook, -0.45%
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