US indices finished yesterday’s session mixed. S&P 500 dropped 0.13%, Dow Jones moved 0.33% lower, while Nasdaq rose 0.06% and Russell 2000 jumped 1.24%

Indices from Asia-Pacific moved higher. Nikkei and S&P/ASX 200 rose 2.50% and 1.7% respectively. Kospi added 1.8% higher and indices from China also moved higher

DAX futures point to a higher opening of the European cash session

Fed Chair Powell says factors outside the Fed’s control may mean a hard landing;

BoJ Governor Kuroda said massive bond buying may hurt market functioning, however central bank will continue powerful monetary easing;

Japan finance minister Suzuki says FX stability is important, recent rapid moves are undesirable and government will continue to watch yen price moves carefully

China would “strictly limit” unnecessary travel outside the country by Chinese citizens due to the spread of the COVID-19 response;

Toyota will suspend production in 12 plants in Japan, & will cut North American production further due to semiconductor shortages;

New Zealand April manufacturing PMI fell to 51.2 which is the lowest since August 2021;

Cryptocurrencies rebounded sharply – Bitcoin trades 8% higher and returned above $30,000 mark while Ethereum trades over 10% higher on the day and approached $2,100 area

Precious metals are trying to erase yesterday loses amid weaker US dollar

Brent and WTI rose 1.8% and 1.5% respectively after OPEC cut forecast for world oil demand growth in 2022 for a second straight month

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

Bitcoin managed to recoup some of its recent losses  and broke above psychological $30,000 leve